Suspected poacher killed

Beitbridge Reporter
August 13, 2009



A SUSPECTED poacher from Mpande area in Beitbridge was shot and killed while another was seriously injured during a shootout with game rangers at Mazunga Safari Ranch, police said yesterday.
The officer commanding police in Beitbridge district, Chief Superintendent Hosiah Mukombero said the incident occurred last week at Mazunga Safari Ranch, just outside Beitbridge town.
"On the fateful day, the now deceased who was in the company of two other suspects, Hardy Nkomo and Never Zhou were armed with 303 rifles and an axe. They got into Mazunga Ranch where we suspect they intended to poach wildlife," said Chief Supt Mukombero.
“It was, however, during the hunting spree that they were spotted by some game rangers who had been tracking them and they ordered them to stop.”
Chief Supt Mukombero said the suspects defied the order and instead opened fire at the game rangers.
"The game rangers in turn fired back and there was an exchange of fire, resulting in one of the poachers being shot at the back of his neck. He died on the spot," he said.
The other suspected poacher, Nkomo, sustained severe injuries after he was also shot by the rangers.
Chief Supt Mukombero identified the now deceased as Life Mbedzi whose age is unknown.
His body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary while the injured was rushed to Beitbridge District Hospital.
The third suspect, Zhou, however, managed to escape and is still at large.
Chief Supt Mukombero said they also arrested a South African man, Jan Johannes George Roos, who is believed to be the brains behind the poaching syndicate. The suspects were allegedly into poaching zebras and smuggling the hides to South Africa.
"The South African was arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post on his way into Zimbabwe and this was after he was implicated by one of the suspects. He is now in our custody assisting us with investigations," he said.
The suspects are expected to appear in court soon on charges of contravening a section of the Parks and Wildlife Act.

Thanks for the post, Kathi.

I would hate to be in Roos's shoes. Try to imagine a Zim jail.

Zimbabwe police arrest South African on poaching charges
http://www.inthenews.co.uk

Saturday, 15 Aug 2009 11:29
By Nqobani Ndlovu.

A white South African has been arrested in southern Zimbabwe facing charges
of illegal poaching that is costing the southern African nation millions of
foreign currency in wildlife tourism revenue.

Jan Johannes George Roos, the South African, is languishing at Beitbridge
prison at a border town separating Zimbabwe and that neighbouring country
following his arrest on Wednesday.

The Officer commanding Beitbridge Police, Chief Superintendent Hosiah
Mukombero, said the jailed South African faces charges of contravening the
Parks and Wildlife Act - illegal poaching.

"The South African was arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post and is
believed to be the brains behind the poaching syndicate that is poaching
zebras and smuggling the hides to South Africa," Chief Superintendent
Mukombero said.

"He is now in our custody assisting us with investigations and will appear
in court soon."

Illegal poaching especially of the endangered rhinos in Zimbabwe - according
to wildlife experts - continues to undermine the country's economic recovery
programmes as the poaching of the rhino is putting under threat one of the
key economic pillars of the nation - ecotourism.

Rhinos are massive tourist attractions and bring millions of foreign
currency.

Zimbabwe is currently home to the fourth largest population of black rhinos
in the world numbering about 490. The country is also home to about 280
white rhinos, the second largest population of the white rhinos in the
world.

However, since 2000, over a 100 endangered black rhinos have been killed in
Zimbabwe in illegal poaching activities: 40 of those in 2008 and 18 so far
in 2009.

When the illegal poaching activities first flared up in 2000, it was linked
to the unplanned occupations of sections of the conservancies by President
Robert Mugabe's supporters and war veterans for food consumption.

Rhino horns have ready ivory markets in Asia. Rhino horns are used in
traditional Chinese medicine. Elsewhere, ivory is in demand for carving into
dagger handles and other ornaments.

Zimbabwe's tourism industry has been in decline since 2000 after most
foreign countries branded the country as an unsafe tourist destination due
to the political crisis.

Is there some kind of legal poaching?? apart from eggs that is??