Three Parks officials arrested

Herald Reporters
April 6, 2009

TWO senior Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials have been arrested on allegations of conducting illegal hunts and killing animals worth US$27 000 at Chizarira National Park while a third was taken into custody on charges of defrauding the authority of US$1 460.

The authority’s director-general Dr Morris Mtsambiwa identified the two suspects arrested on allegations of conducting illegal hunts as Fungai Muroki, who is stationed at Nyamaneche Game Sanctuary near Harare, and K. Madzivadondo, based at Chizarira National Park in the Zambezi Valley.

"The two allegedly hatched a plan to bring two unidentified foreign clients, a Swede and a South African, to Zimbabwe for a hunting excursion.

"They were accompanied by a professional hunter, Joseph Chitambwe, and booked a 10-day hunting safari in Chizarira National Park. In order to disguise their operations, the hunting party was booked in the Parks records as undertaking guided walks, which are limited to photographic safaris," said Dr Mtsambiwa.

During the safari, the hunting party reportedly killed two elephants, five buffaloes, two impalas and one waterbuck, but failed to kill the listed one lion and a leopard although they had set baits for the animals throughout the park.

The authority’s rangers sent to investigate gunshots intercepted the hunting party.

Muroki and Madzivadondo tried to cover up the alleged offence by telling the junior officers that the meat was to be distributed among staff as rations and the proceeds from the hunt were to benefit the rangers through the purchase of uniforms and other requirements.

The rangers were not satisfied with the pair’s explanation, and sent one ranger to the authority’s headquarters in Harare to make a report.

The alleged poaching prejudiced the State of US$27 000, being the total value of the animals killed.

Muroki and Madzivadondo appeared before a Victoria Falls magistrate last Tuesday and were each granted US$100 bail with reporting conditions.

However, Chitambwe, who accompanied the hunters, was still at large.

Meanwhile, the Parks Authority’s finance and administration director Amos Pasinawako on Friday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts for allegedly defrauding his employer of US$1 460.

Pasinawako (52), based at the authority’s head office in Harare, was not asked to plead to fraud when he was arraigned before magistrate Ms Memory Chigwaza, who remanded him out of custody to Thursday this week for trial.

He was ordered to surrender his passport and to report to the police once every Friday.

He is to continue residing at his Greendale house and not interfere with investigations until the finalisation of the matter.

Prosecutor Mr Dumisani Mthombeni, with the assistance of Ms Yvonne Chihiya, appeared for the State.

Allegations against Pasinawako are that on January 12 this year, he hatched a plan to swindle money from the organisation.

He allegedly went to the finance manager, his subordinate, and misrepresented to him that the authority had granted permission for him to claim allowances for a business trip to South Africa.

It is the State’s case that the unsuspecting finance manager released US$730 to Pasinawako, who later demanded an additional US$730, claiming he had been robbed of all the money in South Africa.

During an audit investigation on the alleged robbery in South Africa, it was established that the South African trip was a private one and it had nothing to do with the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

According to the court papers, the Parks Authority was prejudiced of US$1 460.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to Pasinawako’s arrest.

Fungai Moruki signed my elephant permit last July. It seems that it wasn't legal either. The outfitter involved in that fiasco was African Dream Safaris, if anyone cares.

Heck, I'm almost surprised these guys haven't been posting their hunt openings on the AR Discounted Hunts section

quote:

Fungai Moruki signed my elephant permit last July. It seems that it wasn't legal either. The outfitter involved in that fiasco was African Dream Safaris, if anyone cares.

Dogleg, you are probably aware of this as it is a matter of public record, but Tim Schultz of African Dream Safaris had a visa to travel to the United States earlier this year denied, due to his illegal hunting activities.

Bill C,
I didn't know that, but you've made my day! I knew that his membership in the professional hunters and guides assosiation had been revoked, but this is a prayer answered.

Wow! Does anyone know if the hunters were in on the scam? It would really suck to think you're getting a great deal on a hunt only to find out you're involved in breaking the law!

Does anyone know how to find out which Zim professional hunters had their licenses revoked ?

Guy Whittall had his liscense revoked for mistaking a female leopard for a male, telling his client to shoot it and then trying to cover it up.

Making the male/female mistake isn't uncommon and brings but embarrassment, a fine and some ribbing from pals. Trying to cover it up is what cost him his liscense, and rightly so.

In apparent violation of the terms of his liscense revocation, he was involved in some Hwange Park ele hunting, probably relying on someone else's liscense. But he was banned from all Zim Parks and Parks areas for five years when his liscense was revoked. So, illegal hunting in a Park and illegal presence in the Park, in violation of his terms of revocation. Not too bright.

JPK