News / National
Starving soldiers turn to poaching
08 Feb 2016 at 06:49hrs | Views
TWO hungry soldiers were arrested last week facing poaching charges after they were allegedly found in possession of 55kg zebra meat.
The third soldier allegedly escaped arrest and fled, leaving behind an FN and AK-47 rifles.
The court heard that Might Nyoni (30) and Stephen Jimu (38) were arrested following an ambush by rangers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on February 5 this year.
It was the State's case that the suspects were ambushed and arrested while aboard a fibre dink at GatsheGatshe Harbour in Lake Kariba.
Further investigations established the assault rifles belonged to Zimbabwe National Army Parachute Regiment based at Inkomo Barracks in Darwendale.
The value of the hunted zebra is $3 000 and the 55kg of game meat recovered was worth $166.
The suspects were remanded in custody to tomorrow for trial.
Last week, another soldier was fined $200 after being caught with 14kg of game meat at Wafa Wafa Base in Kariba.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Independent reported quoting military sources that soldiers are facing starvation as the barracks have been running without adequate food supplies forcing soldiers to improvise and look for alternative food sources.
The publication said soldiers no longer breakfast, lunch is provided but very few officers do eat in the canteen because it is mainly sadza and beans or at times cabbages.
The third soldier allegedly escaped arrest and fled, leaving behind an FN and AK-47 rifles.
The court heard that Might Nyoni (30) and Stephen Jimu (38) were arrested following an ambush by rangers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on February 5 this year.
It was the State's case that the suspects were ambushed and arrested while aboard a fibre dink at GatsheGatshe Harbour in Lake Kariba.
Further investigations established the assault rifles belonged to Zimbabwe National Army Parachute Regiment based at Inkomo Barracks in Darwendale.
The suspects were remanded in custody to tomorrow for trial.
Last week, another soldier was fined $200 after being caught with 14kg of game meat at Wafa Wafa Base in Kariba.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Independent reported quoting military sources that soldiers are facing starvation as the barracks have been running without adequate food supplies forcing soldiers to improvise and look for alternative food sources.
The publication said soldiers no longer breakfast, lunch is provided but very few officers do eat in the canteen because it is mainly sadza and beans or at times cabbages.
Source - Online
