By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Tapiwa Machaya, 43 year old man from Bikita, and Rodrick Murambisi, 32 year old man from Marondera, have been sentenced to 9 years in prison each for unlawfully possessing a pangolin worth $5,000.The duo was found guilty of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
They were convicted and sentenced by Mutare Magistrates’ Court.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), reports that CID Mutare received information to the effect that the duo were in possession of a pangolin and were looking for a buyer.
The detectives reacted to the supplied information and contacted the second accused person on his mobile number supplied by the whistle blower, pretending to be pangolin buyers.
They lured the accused persons to Manica Skyview hotel as the place they would complete the transaction.
The detectives noticed the second accused person disembarking from a Toyota Aqua heading towards where they were and they invited him to get into their vehicle where he told them he needed USD6 000 for the pangolin.
The first accused person was waiting at a distance with a brown satchel.
Upon agreement on the price, the detectives introduced themselves to the accused person and conducted a search where they recovered a pangolin in a brown sack stashed in the satchel which was being held by the first accused person.
The accused persons were asked to produce a permit which authorized them to possess the pangolin and they failed to do so thereby leading to their arrest.
The pangolin weighed 4.2kg valued at USD5 000 and all was recovered.