Michael Mashiri
Three people, who were caught with ivory after a police detective pretended to be a buyer and apprehended them in the process, have appeared in court.
Tirivei Precious Katsande, 25, of Retreat Park, Waterfalls, Blessing Chingano Mauya, 23, of Hatfield and Brilliant Zvinavashe, 32, of Budiriro 5A, appeared before magistrate Ethel Chichera at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.
The State, through prosecutor Grace Mugocheke, alleges that on August 7, 2023 at around 1100 hours, detectives from CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit were informed that the three had ivory at Koala Abattoir along Seke Road in Hatfield, Harare and were looking for buyers.
The accused were travelling in a Toyota RUNX driven by Zvinavashe.
They went to the area and one of the detectives posed as a potential ivory buyer while others came as backup.
One of the detectives called Zvinavashe on the phone and told him to meet them at an open space at Koala Abattoir, Hatfield, Harare where they were parked with the ivory.
Upon arrival of the detectives, Katsande, Mauya and Zvinavashe arrived in a Toyota RUNX driven by Zvinavashe.
The trio entered the detectives' car while Zvinavashe carried a blue-pink Changani bag with the ivory.
The detective asked to see the ivory and they started weighing it negotiating the price.
While negotiating, the detective signalled the back-up team to close in and went swiftly to the accused in the rear car seat.
They produced service identity cards and asked the accused to produce any license which authorised them to have the ivory but they failed to do so.
The ivory was taken to the department of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority where it was valued at US$924.80.
Chichera denied the three bail, saying they were facing a third schedule offence.
They were ordered to appear in court on September 13.
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