News / National
Zimparks complies with court order, releases businessman fishing rigs
21 Jan 2019 at 08:44hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) has complied with the Bulawayo High Court order compelling it to release two fishing boats impounded from Binga businessman Taurai Marava last year, over an alleged fishing offence on the Zambezi River.
ZimParks impounded the two fishing rigs in August 2017 and demanded $2 000 fine for each boat, but Marava approached the High Court and won the case last month.
ZimParks area manager for Binga, a C Svosvai, wrote a letter, which was seen by NewsDay, dated January 14, ordering the release of the boats.
"Please, may you release the following rigs belonging to Marava as per court order. Please, act accordingly," Svosvai wrote to the officer in charge of Chete Safari Camp, where the boats were docked.
Marava yesterday confirmed the release of his boats.
"I am in the process of collecting them. I am waiting for police escort as they are about 100km away, along the river from Binga and will take us about five hours by boat to reach the area," Marava said.
The businessman approached the Bulawayo High Court under case number HC2712/17, seeking an order declaring the impounding of his rigs illegal and that they be unconditionally released.
Justice Maxwell Takuva ruled in his favour on December 28, describing the confiscation of the licensed fishing rigs as absurd as forfeiting a vehicle because its owner exceeded the speed limit or did not have a driver's licence.
He said vessels which should be impounded and fined $2 000 were those unlicenced and fishing without permits issued by ZimParks in terms of the Act.
ZimParks impounded the two fishing rigs in August 2017 and demanded $2 000 fine for each boat, but Marava approached the High Court and won the case last month.
ZimParks area manager for Binga, a C Svosvai, wrote a letter, which was seen by NewsDay, dated January 14, ordering the release of the boats.
"Please, may you release the following rigs belonging to Marava as per court order. Please, act accordingly," Svosvai wrote to the officer in charge of Chete Safari Camp, where the boats were docked.
"I am in the process of collecting them. I am waiting for police escort as they are about 100km away, along the river from Binga and will take us about five hours by boat to reach the area," Marava said.
The businessman approached the Bulawayo High Court under case number HC2712/17, seeking an order declaring the impounding of his rigs illegal and that they be unconditionally released.
Justice Maxwell Takuva ruled in his favour on December 28, describing the confiscation of the licensed fishing rigs as absurd as forfeiting a vehicle because its owner exceeded the speed limit or did not have a driver's licence.
He said vessels which should be impounded and fined $2 000 were those unlicenced and fishing without permits issued by ZimParks in terms of the Act.
Source - newsday
