Pumula man arrested with 6kg Ivory in broad daylight bust

A 30-year-old man from Pumula South, Blessed Matibenga, is facing serious charges after he was allegedly caught red-handed attempting to peddle a 6kg chunk of elephant ivory in broad daylight  -  without a license, a permit, or any idea that detectives were already watching.

Matibenga appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Shingirai Mutiri on charges of unlawful possession of raw ivory, in violation of Zimbabwe's stringent wildlife protection laws. The ivory is estimated to be worth around US$420.

According to prosecutor Concilia Ncube, the drama unfolded on January 31 at approximately 1 PM when detectives from the Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit (MFFU) acted on a tip-off and set up surveillance at Amakhosi Garage. There, they reportedly observed Matibenga loitering suspiciously near the roadside carrying a white sack.

"Detectives moved in, introduced themselves, and requested to search the bag," Ncube told the court. "Inside, they discovered a raw, unmarked piece of elephant ivory."

Matibenga was immediately questioned and failed to produce any documentation authorizing possession of such a wildlife product. The ivory was seized on the spot and later weighed at Zimpost Bulawayo, where it clocked in at a hefty 6 kilograms.

An official ecologist later confirmed that the material was genuine elephant ivory, leading to Matibenga's arrest.

He now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted, as authorities crack down hard on illegal wildlife trafficking and poaching-related offences in Zimbabwe.

The case has raised questions about whether Matibenga was acting alone or is part of a larger poaching syndicate that continues to endanger Zimbabwe's elephant population  -  one of the nation's most iconic and protected wildlife assets.

The matter has been remanded, and investigations are ongoing.