Dete Man Jailed for Setting Illegal Wire Snares

 

A 30-year-old man from Dete has been sentenced to an effective 12 months in prison by the Hwange Magistrates’ Court for illegally setting wire snares to trap wildlife.

Delight Dhladhla was found guilty of using Class One wire snares, a prohibited hunting method under Zimbabwean wildlife laws, following his arrest on October 25, 2025.

The court heard that game rangers from the Painted Dog Conservation received a tip-off that an animal had been trapped in the Gwayi area. The rangers tracked Dhladhla at a beerhall in Gwayi Business Centre, where he later led them to the site containing two wire snares. 

One of the snares had already caught an aardvark, valued at US$1,500.

The police were notified, leading to Dhladhla’s arrest and court appearance.

In delivering the sentence, the magistrate highlighted the seriousness of the offence, emphasizing the environmental damage caused by illegal hunting methods like wire snares, which indiscriminately harm wildlife.

Dhladhla was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with six months suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence. 

He will serve an effective 12-month jail term.