BINGA — Three men from Lusulu area were lucky to escape jail terms after being warned and discharged by magistrate Stephen Ndlovu.
SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
They were arrested while hunting with nine dogs in the Chizarira National Park.
Tom Mudimba (34), Trust Mudimba (26) and Kaunda Muchimba (30) pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal hunting when they appeared in court yesterday.
The magistrate cautioned and discharged them saying they had not killed any animal at the time of their arrest.
“You are very lucky because you were not found in possession of any animal,” Ndlovu said.
“You see, people are being arrested for killing elephants and you risk being jailed or losing your limbs or killed during poaching activities. You must not do this again.”
Prosecutor Bruce Maphosa told the court that on September, the three went out to hunt at Chizarira National Park in Binga armed with axes and nine dogs, but were intercepted by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers who arrested them and shot dead four of their dogs.
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Their discharge follows an international outcry over the poisoning death of 90 elephants at the Hwange National Park by eight poachers, three of whom were convicted and sentenced up to 16 years. Twitter feedback @silasnkala