US$4 500 ivory lands five in court

Court Reporter
October 1, 2009

Five Harare men who were allegedly found in possession of 30,8 kilogrammes of ivory worth more than $4 500 yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on charges of contravening provisions of the Parks and Wildlife Act.

One of the men, Tapiwa Mupindu (29), pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared before magistrate Ms Tendai Rusinahama, who remanded him out of custody on US$50 bail to tomorrow for sentence.

The other four — Tarisai Mashonganyika (26), Obert Rusere (29), Angels Marozva (29) and Edmore Jaure (21) — pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were all remanded out of custody on US$50 each to October 13 for trial.

Ms Rusinahama ordered them to reside at their given addresses, not to interfere with State witnesses and to report once every week at Harare Central Police Station.

Prosecutor Miss Memory Mukapa alleged that on September 22 this year, a team of detectives from CID Minerals Unit in Harare received information that the gang was illegally dealing in ivory in Warren Park.

It is alleged that the detectives met Mashonganyika in town where one of them posed as a buyer.

He got convinced with the deal and led the detectives to the Army Ordinance where Rusere works.

Rusere called Marozva who later led the detectives to Mupindu and Jaura’s house in Warren Park were the ivory was kept, it is alleged.

The State further alleged that upon arrival, Mupindu and Jaura went into their bedrooms and brought out two pieces of elephant tusks each.

Upon seeing the tusks, Mupindu allegedly demanded the cash and was immediately arrested.

It is further alleged that Mupindu later led the detectives to Hurungwe’s Chiundu area where a .303 rifle that was used to kill the elephants was recovered.