Darlington Gumbo,22, Sipho Sibanda, 30, Happy Magagula, 28, Artwell Mpofu, 32, Elvis Ncube, 19, and Mthokozelwa Ndlovu, 26, all from Tshanke were yesterday arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate, Abednico Ndebele, to answer charges of contravening Section 59 (2)(4) of the Wildlife Act (hunting or poaching with dogs).
They hunted and killed an impala valued at US$500 at Dollar Block Ranch and were linked to a series of other poaching cases where a giraffe, three wildebeests and an ostrich, with a combined value of US$ 5 400, were killed.
However, they were exonerated from the cases and convicted of killing an impala.
The magistrate convicted Gumbo, Sibanda, Magagula, Mpofu, Ncube and Ndlovu on their own plea of guilt. They were sentenced to pay a fine of US$50 each before the end of the month, or in default be sent to jail for 10 days.
In addition, the magistrate ruled that Gumbo, Sibanda, Magagula, Mpofu, Ncube and Ndlovu pay a compensation of US$500 to Dollar Block Ranch.
The state’s case was that on 6 August at about 9pm the six armed themselves with spears and went to the ranch with dogs with the intention of hunting. While there, the court heard that they killed a male impala. Game scouts from the ranch heard dogs barking and went to investigate.
Ndlovu was arrested on the spot while Gumbo, Sibanda, Magagula, Mpofu and Ncube fled. They were later arrested after Ndlovu implicated them.
Post published in: Zimbabwe News