ZIMBABWE Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) rangers at the Chete National Parks in Binga on Saturday shot a suspected poacher dead and seriously injured three others they ambushed soon after killing a female elephant in the park.
STAFF REPORTER
The injured suspected poachers are currently admitted at the Binga District Hospital in critical condition.
They have been named as Choice Mutale (33) of Mululwe village in Sinampande, Knowledge Siachibataka (36) and Clement Siapawo (30) both from Siamuchembu in Gokwe.
They appeared before Binga resident magistrate Stephen Ndlovu from their hospital beds on Tuesday charged with unlawful hunting and possession of elephant tasks.
They were not asked to plead to the charges and Ndlovu remanded them in custody to September 23.
Prosecutor Bruce Maphosa told the court that on September 6 this year, the three with their deceased accomplice, who was not named, went to Chete National Park and shot and killed a female elephant at the Rwizi Rukuru River in the park before removing its horns.
The State said the elephant was shot at around 2pm prompting a patrol by Zimparks rangers.
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The alleged poachers were armed with a 303 rifle with four rounds of ammunition and a 450 rifle with two rounds of ammunition.
The rangers found them relaxing at a fire they had made and cooking a meal. The rangers surrounded the suspects after they had put their guns down.
The State said one of the men jumped and picked a gun and was shot dead on the spot. Siachibitaka tried to flee and was shot in the ankle dislodging it from the socket while Mutale was shot in the leg. Siapawo had his chin ripped off in the shooting.
The rangers then handed over the three to the police while the dead man was taken to the Binga Hospital mortuary.
