Michael Mashiri
Three men who were selling a live pangolin and were caught after the police pretended to be buyers have been remanded in custody.
Simbarashe Moyo, 38, of Mufakose, Tinashe Rungwende, 51 and James Chiripavako, 32, of Mbare, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi accused of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
The three were ordered to apply for bail at the High Court because of the magnitude of their offence.
They will appear in court on September 26.
The State, through prosecutor Zebediah Bofu, alleges that on September 10, 2023, at around 0800 hours, the police were informed that the three had a live pangolin in Mbare and were looking for buyers.
One of the detectives communicated with them to meet in Mbare purporting to be a potential buyer, claiming that when wanted to have sight of the pangolin.
The purported buyer communicated with Rungwende and they agreed to meet near Mupedzanhamo Flea Market in Harare.
He came with other policeman as backup but they kept their distance.
The detective buyer, who was driving a double cab vehicle, picked Moyo and Rungwende, who were not carrying anything.
They directed him to Transerve shop located opposite Matapi Flats.
Rungwende went out of the detective’s car and went to a nearby building to collect the pangolin.
When he came back, he had Chiripavako and Rungwende was carrying the white sack which contained the pangolin.
They presented the white sack, which had a cardboard box inside where the live pangolin was stashed, to the detective buyer.
After viewing the live pangolin, the detective buyer signalled the back-up team to close in while negotiating with the three.
The back-up team closed in and identified themselves to the accused persons.
They requested them to produce a licence or permit authorising them to possess the live pangolin and they failed, leading to their arrest.
An official from the department of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority was summoned to CID MFFU Harare and assayed the pangolin.
The pangolin was valued at US$5 000.
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