3 arrested over game products

THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, through a joint operation with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, has recovered game products worth thousands of dollars hidden at two Harare houses, an official confirmed last week.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the game products which are suspected to have been illegally acquired in Hwange.

The recovered game products include 62 ivory pieces, 263 ivory cubes, one small rhino horn top, five necklace pieces, five zebra skins, two crocodile skins, 262 elephant feet, five elephant ears, two elephant tails, one kudu skull, one buffalo cap and one crocodile mounted trophy.

Although Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo could not give the exact value of the recovered goods, rough calculations by this paper estimate the value to be over $60 000.

Ms Washaya-Moyo said the raid on the two houses, whose location she could not reveal, was conducted on 3 January after police details and Zimparks rangers, acting on a tip-off, tracked the suspects from Hwange.

"We carried a joint operation with the Zimbabwe Republic Police during the festive season and discovered the game products stashed in the two houses. The game products discovered in one of the houses are 62 ivory pieces, 263 ivory cubes, one small rhino horn top and five necklace pieces.

"Further investigations revealed that there were other game products stashed at another house where the following were discovered, five zebra skins, two crocodile skins, 262 elephant feet, five elephant ears, two elephant tails, one kudu skull, one buffalo cap and one crocodile mounted trophy.

"Three people were arrested and are assisting police with investigations," she said.

Ms Washaya-Moyo, however, could not give more details referring further questions to police officials.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi further referred inquiries to the Border Control and Minerals Unit which he said was in charge of the case.

However, the unit's spokesperson, Detective Assistant Inspector Zeldah Chidede, declined comment and referred questions back to Chief Supt Nyathi.

Ms Washaya-Moyo said individuals who are interested in taking part in wildlife activities must make sure they have requisite licensing, or risk getting in trouble with the law.

"Those who want to partake in wildlife activities are required to be in possession of an ivory manufacturers licence, Cites export permit or risk the law catching up with them. Further, individuals will be thoroughly vetted if they are to carry out these activities," she said.

In Zimbabwe, the illegal possession of ivory and rhino horn attracts a minimum mandatory sentence of nine years on the first count and a maximum of 20 years for the second count onwards according to the General Law Amendment No 97 of 2010.

The administering of poisonous substances to the environment, attracts minimum of five years, with other offences like trapping of animals carrying a minimum of six months to three years.

Statistics from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority show that 867 Elephants have been poached since 2011 with local poachers topping the list.

Only 12 foreign poachers were arrested.

The statistics also reveal that a total of 1 174 ivory products were recovered from illegal poaching activities since 2011.

A total of 135 rifles and 2 694 rounds of ammunition were also recovered in the same period.

Last year the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority presented a report to Government which highlighted the need for more law enforcement, patrols, conservation education, awareness campaigns and information sharing in a bid to curb poaching.