By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
A 62-year-old man from Hwange has been fined US$1,100 after being convicted of unlawful possession of game meat in violation of Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Act.
Samson Ncube of Madumabisa Village was arrested after police and wildlife authorities found him with 12kg of dried kudu meat valued at US$480, which he was selling without a permit. The joint patrol was conducted in Lwendulu Village by officers from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit working alongside rangers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
Appearing before the Hwange Magistrates’ Court, Ncube was ordered to pay the fine by 19 September 2025 or serve three months in prison if he defaults. The recovered kudu meat was forfeited to the State and ordered destroyed.
Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Act [Chapter 20:14] strictly regulates the hunting, possession, and trade of wild animal products. Offenders face fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the crime.
Hwange, home to Zimbabwe’s largest national park, has been a hotspot for poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Conservationists warn that unregulated hunting and bushmeat sales threaten both biodiversity and rural livelihoods dependent on eco-tourism.
Ncube remains liable to serve a three-month jail term should he fail to pay the fine by the stipulated date.