Former ZNA member arrested for poaching

By Vincent Gono in Masvingo
February 16, 2009

POLICE in Chiredzi last week arrested an army deserter who stole an AK47 rifle and engaged in poaching activities in the Chiredzi conservancies with three others using the stolen gun.


Mark Mhondiwa (31), who recently ran away from the army with a rifle that had army serial numbers and 32 live rounds of ammunition together with Clever Gurajena and Chrispen Shone both aged 32 years were arrested after police in Chiredzi received a tip off from members of the public to the effect that the three were poaching rhinos in conservancies strewn in the lowveld.
Police acting on a tip-off, teamed up with rangers from Malilangwe conservancy in Chiredzi, laid an ambush and managed to arrest the three in Muzvidziwa village under Chief Nyajena in Masvingo.
After the three were arrested a search was conducted at Gurajena’s house where they found the rifle with army serial numbers.
It was then established that Mhondiwa had stolen the rifle and the 32 live rounds of ammunition that were being used by the three in carrying out the poaching activities from the Zimbabwe National Army.
Police spokesman for Masvingo Province Inspector Phibion Nyambo confirmed the arrest of the three adding that their arrest was likely to clear the many cases of rhino poaching that had been reported in Chiredzi.
He thanked the people of Chiredzi for their co-operation with the police and urged all other communities to emulate the good rapport with the police exhibited by the community of Chiredzi.
“Police in Chiredzi arrested three poachers, one of them who recently deserted the army and found an AK47 rifle with army serial numbers that he had stolen. The rifle was being used in carrying out the poaching activities in conservancies in Chiredzi including the giant Gonarezhou National Park. The arrest is likely to clear the many cases of rhino poaching that have been going on in Chiredzi,” said Inspector Nyambo.

Great news, good job. Lately things have been going our way, for once.