Two men from Bikita and Marondera respectively, were each sentenced to 9 years in prison by a Mutare magistrate after being caught with a pangolin.
Pangolins are specially protected animals under the Parks and Wildlife Act, and possessing one illegally can result in severe penalties, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 9 years imprisonment.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Tapiwa Machaya (43) from Bikita and Rodrick Murambisi (32) from Marondera appeared before the Mutare Magistrates’ Court for contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
On July 16, 2024, CID Mutare received information that the accused had a pangolin and were looking for a buyer.
Detectives, posing as buyers, contacted Murambisi using a number provided by a whistleblower and arranged to meet at Manica Skyview Hotel.
The detectives observed Murambisi disembarking from a Toyota Aqua and invited him into their vehicle. He stated he needed US$6,000 for the pangolin. The first accused, Machaya, was waiting nearby with a brown satchel.
Once the price was agreed upon, the detectives revealed their identities and searched, discovering a pangolin in a brown sack within Machaya’s satchel.
The accused could not produce a permit authorising them to possess the pangolin, leading to their arrest. The pangolin, weighing 4.2 kg and valued at US$5,000, was recovered.

Pindula News

Two men were sent to prison for 9 years for being caught with a pangolin, a protected animal. They were found guilty of breaking the law. The police acted like they wanted to buy the pangolin from the men, but then they caught them red-handed. The pangolin was found in a bag, and the men didn't have permission to have it. So, they were arrested and sent to prison. Pangolins are special animals, and it is important to protect them. The men did something wrong, and that's why they got in trouble.

Two Pangolin Poachers Jailed For 9 Years

A 33-year-old Zimbabwean man was among four men arrested in South Africa by the Hawks while allegedly selling two pangolins at Mahikeng Mall.
Deon Clamans Mubhada, two South African nationals Kabelo McDonald Batsi (36), and Tebogo Kodwa (28), as well as Botswana national Lesego Siana (45) appeared before the Molopo Magistrate’s Court in North West.
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in North West, Henry Mamothame said the matter was adjourned till 06 June for verification of the statuses of the accused people in preparation for the bail application. <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/multinational-syndicate-two-south-africans-a-zimbabwean-and-a-botswana-national-arrested-while-allegedly-selling-pangolins-53158645-137e-407d-94e2-dd9c40ef1bde">IOL</a> quoted Mamothame as saying:
<blockquote>
They are facing two charges of contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act of 10 of 2004 after they were found in possession of two pangolins…
The Hawks report revealed that information that was followed up, led to the arrest of the four at Mahikeng Mall where they were found in possession of the endangered species, allegedly trying to sell them.
They will remain in police custody until the next court appearance set for a bail application. Meanwhile, investigations are underway to establish more facts on the matter.
Owing to the serious nature of such offences in the province, a senior State advocate, advocate Benny Kalakgosi, has been allocated the case to ensure that the four are brought to book successfully.
</blockquote>
Hawks spokesperson in North West, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, said:
<blockquote>
Members of the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation arrested four suspects aged between 29 and 45, in Mahikeng on 30 May 2023, following their attempt to sell two pangolins for R200 000.
The team was following up on information regarding the suspects who were allegedly looking for a buyer for the pangolins.
The quartet was cornered at Mahikeng Mall where they were found in possession of the endangered species.
</blockquote>
Endangered species are those that are at risk of extinction because of a sudden rapid decrease in their population or a loss of their critical habitat.
According to the National Geographic Society, species become endangered for two main reasons: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwean Man Arrested While Selling Pangolins In South Africa

A woman from Figtree in Matabeleland South Province and her family were given groceries worth US$50.00, T-shirts and conservation books by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) after she handed over a live pangolin that she had encountered in the veld.
Portia Moyo from Mahenya Village received the gifts from Zimparks principal wildlife investigation and security officer Amos Gwema.
Gwema told <a href="https://vicfallslive.co.zw/index.php/2022/10/12/figtree-woman-rewarded-for-handing-over-pangolin/">VicFallsLive</a> that the gift was meant to encourage communities to conserve wildlife. Gwema said:
<blockquote>
I handed over a grocery hamper worth US$50 to Portia Moyo of Mahenya Village after she picked a live pangolin while she was cutting thatching grass.
I also handed three T-shirts to the family with a conservation message to appeal to the community against committing wildlife crimes.
Portia Moyo was very thankful and she encouraged me to continue doing the good work because she said the community is rarely recognised in wildlife conservation.
She spoke touchingly saying ‘You are a rare person, who remembers us, poor villagers, most funds are used by elites on meetings and on hotels without recognising the poor villagers who reside side by side with these animals.
</blockquote>
Gwema said the pangolin has been released back to the Hwange National Park.

Zimparks Rewards Woman For Handing Over Pangolin

A 48-year-old teacher at Razi Primary School in Chivi has been arrested after being found with a live pangolin, <a href="https://midweekwatch.co.zw/teacher-in-court-for-pangolin-possession/bridget/">The Midweek Watch reports</a>.
Raymond Chavizha appeared before magistrate Farai Gwitima this Tuesday facing charges of contravening section 59(2)(a)(b) of the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Parks_%26_Wildlife_Management_Authority">Parks and Wildlife</a> Act which categorizes a pangolin as a rare protected species.
He was remanded in custody to June 29.
Representing the state, prosecutor Tarisai Muvengi told the court that detectives in <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Chiredzi">Chiredzi</a> were informed that the accused together with an unidentified accomplice was in possession of a live pangolin which he was selling.
The detectives who were investigating the case posed as buyers and called the accused where they agreed to meet near Roy – Masvingo Tollgate to negotiate payment.
Upon arrival, the team of detectives invited Chavhizha and his accomplice into their vehicle and agreed to drive along Roy-Gutu road in search of a convenient place to seal the deal.
After driving about two kilometres, the detectives moved away from the main road, followed a dust road and stopped.
They then identified themselves to the accused, carried out a search and recovered a live pangolin valued at ZW$425 000.
The pangolin weighed 8.5 kilograms. 
Pangolins are increasingly threatened by demand for their scales, which are used in traditional medicines, and for their meat, which is consumed as a luxury. As populations of Asian pangolins decline, the demand is shifting to the four species in Africa, where local cultural use may already pose some level of threat.
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Teacher Arrested For Possession Of A Live Pangolin

A teacher and a nurse and an accomplice have been arrested by the police for unlawful possession of two live pangolins.
Justice Faya (42), Pinias Chauke (31), and Lovemore Dheya (39), were arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Chipinge Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit.
ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Chipinge Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit, has arrested three suspects for unlawful possession of two live pangolins.
The three suspects are Lovemore Dheya, aged 39 years, not employed, Justice Faya, aged 42 years, employed as a teacher and Pinias Chauke, aged 31 years, a nurse, all of Checheche, Chipinge.
On 4 April 2022, police detectives in Chipinge got wind that the three accused persons were in possession of a live pangolin in Chibuwe which they intended to sell at a business centre in Chipinge.
Acting on the information, police quickly reacted to the call and mounted a roadblock together with the Chipinge Safari crew.
They searched all vehicles that passed through the roadblock and they recovered two live pangolins from one of the vehicles leading to the arrest of the three.
The pangolins were in a 20-litre container that was stashed in a sack in the boot of the motor vehicle. The three were taken to court and were remanded to 11 April 2022 for trial.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns the public against poaching wildlife. According to the Parks and Wildlife Act, it is an offence for one to hunt any animal on any land without a permit.
Please be warned that the illegal killing and trafficking of any endangered wildlife attracts a mandatory lengthy sentence of a nine-year jail term.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Teacher, Nurse Caught In Possession Of Two Pangolins

Two poachers who were in possession of a female pangolin weighing over 13kg were nabbed by wildlife activists in Hwange on Thursday last week.
Farm 52 manager in Lobangwe, Matetsi under Hwange District, Wisdom Bushe Neshavi, told CITE that members of the voluntary anti-poaching programme, which he runs, caught the poachers. He said:
<blockquote>Our voluntary anti-poaching programme is aimed at taking care of wildlife and educating others about the dangers of poaching.
While doing their rounds, a patrol team made up of two locals, Skhumbuzo Mathe and Aristotle Tusai picked up poachers’ prints at Katuna Farm around 7 am yesterday.
The patrol team also found the poachers’ base camp in the bush where there was a pangolin jacket, meaning hunting pangolins could have been their everyday job.</blockquote>
Neshavi said the humongous pangolin weighed in excess of 13 kilogrammes and is one of the biggest finds in the country. Said Neshavi:
<blockquote>The rescued pangolin weighed 13.635 kg and was taken in by officials from Wildlife Trust Victoria Falls for rehabilitation.
The biggest pangolin ever seen weighed 15 to 16 kg and this one is one the biggest in Zimbabwe, if not Africa.
The rehabilitation is to manage the pangolin’s stress levels, making sure it’s not cheeky and not traumatised.
It will then be released to my care to be let loose in the wild again.</blockquote>
When the two poachers were caught, they claimed they wanted to eat the animal but Neshavi dismissed their claims. He said:
<blockquote>If they wanted to eat it, they would have killed it already. The poachers keeping the pangolin alive means they had a buyer for it. A kg of pangolin costs roughly US$500.</blockquote>
The wildlife activists handed over the poachers to Hwange police and will likely be charged with contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Pangolins are protected under the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Act, and the country has one of the strictest laws against pangolin poaching in Africa.
Pangolins are protected by law and possessing or dealing in them illegally attracts a prison sentence of up to 12 years, according to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
<h4>More: <a href="https://cite.org.zw/poachers-caught-with-13kg-live-pangolin/">CITE</a></h4>

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