Mashudu Mambo
A DUO from Dete in Matabeleland North province has been nabbed for violating the Parks and Wildlife Act after being found in possession of giraffe meat.
Thulani Dube (28) and Smart Banda (42) pleaded guilty to the charges before a Hwange magistrate. They were sentenced to pay a fine of US$200 or face four months’ imprisonment.
The court heard that on 24 August 2024, a team of rangers were on patrol at Mtharanhaka block in Sikumi area when they spotted vultures flying around, this raised their suspicions.
The team proceeded to the location and conducted a search, they found four giraffe legs and a jaw. At the scene, they spotted paw prints and some blood stains, they followed the trail which led them to Dube’s house.
While they were at his house, they conducted a search and recovered dried giraffe meat leading to his arrest. Dube implicated Banda and he was arrested.
