Resort owner in court over swindling hunter

Court Reporter

Herald-June 6, 2007

RODGERS Madangure, the owner of Vakatsha Ranch, popularly known as Matetsi Leisure Resort, in Matabeleland North, yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts on allegations of swindling a South African hunter of US$3 000 and R25 000.

Madangure allegedly connived with an unidentified Parks and Wildlife Management Authority official based in Harare and advertised a non-existent hunting quota at his Vakatsha Ranch.

This allegedly resulted in a South African hunter — Mr David Jacobus Groenewald — showing interest and paying the money before discovering that he had been duped. Madangure (43) of Number 5 Hoopoe Hollow Road, Burnside in Bulawayo, is being charged with contravening the Exchange Control Act and fraud.

He was not asked to plead when he was arraigned before Harare magistrate Ms Olivia Mariga, who remanded him out of custody to June 18 on $1 million bail. Prosecutor Mr Austin Muzivi appeared for the State. Charges against Madangure arose last year when he and his alleged accomplice advertised the hunting quota in South Africa and Mr Groenewald went to see him at the ranch. Madangure allegedly asked for a deposit payment of US$8 000, but Mr Groenewald only managed to pay US$3 000 in cash and promised to pay the balance in South African rands. It is the State’s case that Madangure instructed him to pay the balance into his wife’s account with ABSA Bank of South Africa at the Musina branch.

Between May 23 and 26 last year, Mr Groenewald allegedly deposited R25 000 into the account of Mrs Madangure but when he went to conduct hunting, he was informed by Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials that the said quota was non-existent.

The officials told Mr Groenewald that the said hunting quota was not in the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s records. Upon discovering that he had been conned, Mr Groenewald tried in vain to locate Madangure until he was arrested by police.

Part of the charges arose from Madangure instructing Mr Groenewald to make a payment of the balance of R25 000 into a South African account without the permission of the Exchange Control Authority of Zimbabwe.

Held on 1 million Zim dollars bail?
Thats like $25 isn't it?????????

Don't you just love it.

Vakatsha Lodge is a 2000 acre property legally belonging to Piers Taylor, well known PH and former operator of Trophy Hunters Africa in Matetsi.

It has obviously been "acquired" and the dreaded Mr. Groenewald in turn screwed by the "new owner".

There should never have been a quota on this land as it is connected to the "development area" of Matetsi National Parks HQ and was originally a photographic safari lodge.

If you don't laugh you'll cry!!!!!!

No sympathy for either party, they come from the same mould.

I don't know if this David Groenewald is any relation to the Groenewald's of OAA infamy, but it seems an exceptional coincidence. If in fact they are related, then I would have no sympathy whatsoever. It doesn't seem from the comments that a "hunter" was swindled, but rather an RSA outfitter trying to profit from illegal quota in Zim. Apparently there is no honor among thieves....
Bill

Yep, dance with the devil and you get burned eh? I have no sympathy either - there are many guys here struggling to carry on without having to resort to this kind of skullduggery.

THat's why you should use an agent. I have done this both ways and I like using agents when there is a shred of doubt about a deal or a hunt.

PS - Wendell, Ray, Shakari, Mark - you are welcome!!!!