A Harare gardener has pleaded guilty to theft after he was caught attempting to sell elephant ivory stolen from his employer’s Borrowdale residence during an undercover police operation.
Farai Matenderuke, 39, appeared before Harare magistrate Lisah Mutendereki facing charges of stealing two marked elephant tusks weighing 5.35 kilogrammes and valued at US$909.50.
The State, represented by prosecutor Polite Chikiwa, told the court that in March 2024 Matenderuke discovered the ivory hidden inside a wardrobe at his employer’s home in Borrowdale, where he worked as a gardener.
Taking advantage of being alone at the premises, Matenderuke allegedly stole the tusks and concealed them beneath a tree trunk outside the property’s security wall.
The court heard that after leaving his job and relocating to Greystone Park, where he secured new employment as a gardener, the accused later returned to Borrowdale to retrieve the hidden ivory.
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He allegedly transported the tusks to his new residence and began searching for potential buyers.
On April 19, 2026, detectives from CID Highlands acted on a tip-off indicating that Matenderuke was attempting to sell ivory and launched a decoy operation at Chisipite Business Centre.
An undercover officer posing as a buyer met the accused and requested to see the tusks. Matenderuke allegedly led the detective to his Greystone Park residence, where he produced the ivory wrapped in a black plastic bag and hidden in a corner of his bedroom.
The tusks, which bore serial numbers, were recovered during the operation.
Wildlife expert Henry Chikonangombe later weighed and valued the ivory, confirming that the two elephant tusks weighed 5.35 kilogrammes and were worth US$909.50.
Matenderuke pleaded guilty to the charge and is awaiting sentencing.
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