Ranger in court for shooting villager

A RANGER from Hwange Rural District Council (HRDC) Community Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) has been taken to court for accidentally shooting a 62-year-old Jambezi woman as he tried to put down a troublesome elephant.

Irene Munsaka of Chenamisa village, died on the spot at her homestead when a stray bullet hit her on the head as the ranger attempted to kill the problem elephant.

Thubelihle Ncube (28) of Hwange was not asked to plead to murder charges when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Rangarirai Privilege Gakanje on Wednesday. He was remanded in custody to April 17 and his lawyer Thulani Nkala indicated that he intends to apply for bail.

The court was told that on April 1 at night, Munsaka was at her homestead along the Hwange-Victoria Falls Road.

HRDC Campfire rangers had visited the area between Jambezi Centre and Chikandakubi to drive away problem animals that had been terrorising villagers.

Ncube saw an elephant and fired towards it and missed. The stray bullet hit Munsaka, leading to her death. Villagers alerted Campfire officers and a report was made to the police, leading to Ncube's arrest.

Bheki Tshabalala prosecuted.