A 30-YEAR-OLD Tsholotsho man has been sentenced to nine years for illegal possession of three elephant tusks.
by Nokuthaba Dlamini
Thandazani Sibindi of Sithembile Village was convicted and sentenced on his own plea of guilty to the charge when he appeared before Hwange regional magistrate, Sharon Rosemani on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Onias Nyathi told the court that on November 30 last year, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers and police received information that Sibindi was illegally selling elephant tusks.
On the same night, they invaded Sibindi’s homestead and recovered three elephant tusks hidden in a fowl-run, leading to his arrest.
In his defence, Sibindi said the tusks were from two elephants he had found dead, claiming he intended to hand them over to Zimparks, but delayed after his child died.
However, Rosemani convicted Sibindi after considering evidence from witnesses.
