By Takudziridzwa Nyama
The Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court has sentenced two men, Thembani Sibanda (38) and Obvious Mpofu (40), to pay a fine of $150 each for importing wildlife without a permit.
In default of payment, they will face 25 days imprisonment.
Circumstances are that on the 21st of May 2025, at around 1030 hours, detectives from CID MFFU Beitbridge, while on surveillance at Beitbridge Border Post, observed the offenders, Thembani Sibanda and Obvious Mpofu, both residing in Magwegwe, Bulawayo, entering Zimbabwe from South Africa on foot carrying a black cage.
The two offenders were seen attempting to evade Beitbridge Border Post Officials and did not declare the goods they were carrying. The detectives intercepted them at the Freight Terminal North Bound, introduced themselves and requested to search them.
During the search, it was discovered that the cage contained four ducks. The offenders failed to produce a permit authorizing them to import the ducks, leading to their arrest and the seizure of the ducks.
Later that same day, around 1230 hours, the offenders and the recovered ducks were taken to the Department of Parks and Wildlife, where the ducks were identified as Pekin ducks. The four Pekin ducks are valued at US$200.