Cyanide dealers nabbed

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TWO Victoria Falls men appeared in court yesterday facing allegations of selling cyanide that has been used to kill elephants.

TWO Victoria Falls men appeared in court yesterday facing allegations of selling cyanide that has been used to kill elephants.

NOKUTHABA DLAMINI OWN CORRESPONDENT Namatani Ndlovu (30), a hunter and former Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) ranger from Mkhosana, and Calvin Murapata (22), a commuter omnibus driver from Chinotimba, pleaded not guilty to the charge of “selling to any person any pesticide or toxic substance that one knows is not registered” when they appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani.

For the State, Takunda Ndovorwi told the court that on August 23 the two made a deal to sell cyanide granules weighing 340g to Norest Makuyana at Mkhosana shopping centre.

After getting a tip-off, police officers set up a trap and recorded serial numbers of a $100 note that was used to purchase the cyanide. Ndlovu then used the $100 he had received from Makuyana to buy beer at Mkhosana bar.

Ndlovu and Murapata were arrested the following day.

The investigating officer, one I Tembo, opposed bail saying the two had other pending cases.

“I oppose the bail application as the two may interfere with witnesses and evidence as we are still conducting more investigations,” he said.

“Ndlovu has a pending case of stocktheft in Hwange and Marapata is facing theft charges involving cellphones. I, therefore, feel they might abscond.”

Rosemani remanded the two in custody and is set to make a ruling on their bail application today.