News / Regional
Five people arrested over cyanide poisoning scam
08 Oct 2015 at 07:28hrs | Views
Zimbabwe Parks and Wild Life Management has said they have picked five suspects in connection with the cyanide poisoning which killed the elephants at Hwange National Parks.
Suspected poachers used cyanide to kill 14 elephants in Zimbabwe's western Hwange national park and in the north since Sept 26 this year, the national wildlife agency said on Tuesday Hwange, home of Zimbabwe's most famous lion Cecil who was killed by an American dentist in July, holds 53,000 elephants, twice the park's carrying capacity, the park's agency says.
ZimParks through its website has said operating with the police they have picked the five suspects for questioning in relation to the above mentioned incident.
"All the suspects were picked from Hwange National Park Main Camp," said ZimParks.
Particulars of the suspects, Regan Bell (24) of Hwange Main Camp, Dete originally from Mwemba Village, Chief Hwange, Peace Ndebele (26) of Hwange Main Camp, origionally from Dete in Mutuya, Dete, Madlankosi Masuku (25) of Hwange Main Camp originally from Soweto, Dete, Reason Ncube (26) of Hwange Main Camp originally from Mabale, Chief Nelukoba and Khumbulani Ndlovu (27) of Hwange Main Camp.
ZimParks said houses of the suspects were searched and all shoes found in the house were taken in an effort to match with the spoor pattern found at the scene.
"There is one pair of shoes belonging to Peace Ndebele which might have been used. Investigations are continuing," said ZimParks.
The latest elephants cyanide killings come at a time when last year over 100 elephants were killed through the same poisoning leading to a number of villagers being arrested and some are still serving their jail terms after they were convicted and sent to jail.
Suspected poachers used cyanide to kill 14 elephants in Zimbabwe's western Hwange national park and in the north since Sept 26 this year, the national wildlife agency said on Tuesday Hwange, home of Zimbabwe's most famous lion Cecil who was killed by an American dentist in July, holds 53,000 elephants, twice the park's carrying capacity, the park's agency says.
ZimParks through its website has said operating with the police they have picked the five suspects for questioning in relation to the above mentioned incident.
"All the suspects were picked from Hwange National Park Main Camp," said ZimParks.
ZimParks said houses of the suspects were searched and all shoes found in the house were taken in an effort to match with the spoor pattern found at the scene.
"There is one pair of shoes belonging to Peace Ndebele which might have been used. Investigations are continuing," said ZimParks.
The latest elephants cyanide killings come at a time when last year over 100 elephants were killed through the same poisoning leading to a number of villagers being arrested and some are still serving their jail terms after they were convicted and sent to jail.
Source - Byo24News
