News / Local
Zimbabwe police hunt monkey killer
09 Dec 2014 at 09:00hrs | Views
POLICE have picked up the owner of a house in Bulawayo's Emakhandeni suburb where residents killed a monkey they suspected was being used to bewitch them.
The development follows an announcement yesterday by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) that it had stepped up measures to get residents who killed the animal prosecuted.
If convicted, the residents face up to six months in prison and or a fine of $200.
SPCA Animal Inspector Dumisani Sibanda said the organisation reported the matter at Luveve Police Station.
"We made a report to the police and they are now making their investigations to arrest the killers. As of yesterday, the owner of the house where the animal was killed had been called for questioning," said Sibanda.
He said the docket had been opened under case number 44/1214.
Sibanda said the culprits would be charged with "cruelty to animals."
"According to the Cruelty to Animals Act, offenders pay up to $200 or six months imprisonment or both a fine or imprisonment. However, we are still investigating the report," said Sibanda.
He said offenders are tried after a report is made to them or the police and a docket for the crime is opened.
If arrested, the killers are expected to appear in court.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo could not be reached for comment.
In an incident of cruelty to animals reported by our sister paper, Umthunywa a fortnight ago, the stray monkey had for three days been reportedly tormenting Emakhandeni residents.
Residents said it was acting strange.
The monkey reportedly raided refrigerators at people's homes as it scavenged for food.
It was also said to be a nuisance as, after eating, it would use the toilet and then get into people's blankets.
It was allegedly killed by residents who lay ambush on it after it sneaked into one of the houses in the suburb.
Sibanda said the stray monkey could have been lost or it could have fallen or jumped from a train as it passed Emakhandeni suburb. The monkey was killed and reportedly later burnt by its killers in the suburb.
The development follows an announcement yesterday by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) that it had stepped up measures to get residents who killed the animal prosecuted.
If convicted, the residents face up to six months in prison and or a fine of $200.
SPCA Animal Inspector Dumisani Sibanda said the organisation reported the matter at Luveve Police Station.
"We made a report to the police and they are now making their investigations to arrest the killers. As of yesterday, the owner of the house where the animal was killed had been called for questioning," said Sibanda.
He said the docket had been opened under case number 44/1214.
Sibanda said the culprits would be charged with "cruelty to animals."
"According to the Cruelty to Animals Act, offenders pay up to $200 or six months imprisonment or both a fine or imprisonment. However, we are still investigating the report," said Sibanda.
If arrested, the killers are expected to appear in court.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo could not be reached for comment.
In an incident of cruelty to animals reported by our sister paper, Umthunywa a fortnight ago, the stray monkey had for three days been reportedly tormenting Emakhandeni residents.
Residents said it was acting strange.
The monkey reportedly raided refrigerators at people's homes as it scavenged for food.
It was also said to be a nuisance as, after eating, it would use the toilet and then get into people's blankets.
It was allegedly killed by residents who lay ambush on it after it sneaked into one of the houses in the suburb.
Sibanda said the stray monkey could have been lost or it could have fallen or jumped from a train as it passed Emakhandeni suburb. The monkey was killed and reportedly later burnt by its killers in the suburb.
Source - chronicle
