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DDF boss arrested over poaching

02 Nov, 2018 - 00:11 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Nyore Madzianike Senior Reporter
MANICALAND District Development Fund (DDF) boss, Mr Robert Chawatama has been arrested alongside his farm manager and a Chipinge farmer after being suspected of killing a buffalo in a poaching spree in Middle Sabi.

Chawatama (52) was arrested along with Didymus Nyaumwe (59) of Farm 28 and Cephas Chezuro (39) who is also suspected to be part of a syndicate involved in poaching animals in Middle Sabi.

Chezuro is employed as a supervisor at Chawatama’s Farm 25 in Middle Sabi.

Upon their arrest, the trio was also reportedly found in possession of two riffles, which they allegedly used for poaching activities in Middle Sabi and the surrounding areas.

Chawatama, Nyaumwe and Chezuro were taken to Middle Sabi circuit court charged with ‘hunting any animal on any land without a permit’.

The trio was not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Farai Gwitima.

State counsel, Mr Tafadzwa Katsande, had it that during the wee hours of October 21 2018, Chawatama, Nyaumwe and Chezuro armed themselves with two rifles and proceeded to Farm 9 in Middle Sabi, Chipinge.

Reports are that they were driving in a truck registered ADV 3480.

The State alleges that upon arrival, Nyaumwe shot and killed a buffalo.

Mr Katsande said  Lovemore Mwatsiya, a Parks and Wildlife Management Authority official who was on patrol, heard some gunshots and went to inform his superiors.

Mwatsiya and his superiors launched an investigation and discovered that an animal had been shot.

Spent cartridges were recovered from the scene, according to the State.

The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials reported the matter to the police.

An investigation was launched leading to the arrest of Chawatama and his accomplices.

The trio was later taken to court charged with contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.

The buffalo was valued at $8000.

Chawatama, Nyaumwe and Chezuro were, however, removed from remand at the insistence of the State and they will return to court by way of summons.

In a related but separate matter, two Chipinge brothers who were arrested recently for possessing two elephant tusks weighing 13,5kgs valued at $2 295 were on Monday jailed for nine years.

Lovemore Sithole (44) and Clemence Sithole (36), both of Charuma village were convicted by Chipinge magistrate Mr Vuso Gapara for contravening Section 82 of the Parks and Wildlife Management Act.

The two had pleaded not guilty, but were convicted after trial due to overwhelming evidence against them.

In his ruling Mr Gapara said the two committed a serious offence that warranted a punitive sentence to deter would-be offenders.

“Cases involving poaching of endangered animals are on the rise in Chipinge, especially in the nearby Save Conservancy.

“It is the role of the courts to punish severely all those found contravening the Parks and Wildlife Management Act.

“All those found on the wrong side of the law (Lovemore Sithole and Clemence Sithole) will serve nine mandatory years so that would-be offenders will think twice before committing similar offences,” he said.

Three other accused persons Denny Mtetwa (42), Witness Saize (29) and Isaac Mlambo were acquitted after the State failed to prove a prima facie case against them.

State lawyer Mrs Chipo Nyasha had told the court that on October 12, Jeremiah Mhlanga, an investigator in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism attached to Parks and Wildlife Management Authority received information from a reliable source that the five were selling elephant tusks at Birchenough Bridge growth point.

Mhlanga then contacted Mlambo who confirmed that they had two elephant tusks.

She said on October 13, Mhlanga and Mlambo agreed to meet at Charuma Primary School, in Chief Mutema’s area.

Mhlanga then teamed up with Sergeant Denhere of Birchenough Bridge police post and proceeded to the rendezvous.

“Upon arrival, they found the five accused persons, with Clemence Sithole carrying the sack containing the two elephant tusks.

“The five were immediately arrested and the two elephant tusks were recovered.”

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