Zimparks rangers arrested for skinning bushbuck

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TWO Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) rangers Shepherd Mukombwe (32) and Chrispen Tungwarara (30) stationed at Zambezi Camp have appeared in court for violating the Parks and Wildlife Act after they skinned a bushbuck that had been killed by a car and shared the meat.

TWO Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) rangers Shepherd Mukombwe (32) and Chrispen Tungwarara (30) stationed at Zambezi Camp have appeared in court for violating the Parks and Wildlife Act after they skinned a bushbuck that had been killed by a car and shared the meat.

RUTH NGWENYA OWN CORRESPONDENT

They both pleaded guilty when they appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani yesterday and were each fined $70 or seven weeks in jail.

Mukombwe told the court that the bushbuck had already been eaten by wild animals and they had only shared the little remains that they came across. He said they had gone for two months without receiving their rations.

Prosecutor Listen Nare told the court that on November 13, Mukombwe came across the carcass of a bushbuck close to the Crocodile Farm and carried it to Zambezi Camp.

“The first accused saw the carcass on the side of the road at about 9pm and carried it to Zambezi Camp where he invited the second accused,” said Nare. bushbuck “The two skinned the animal, shared the meat and disposed of the hide on the side of the road.”

A passerby saw the hide and reported the matter to Zimparks authorities leading to the arrest of Mukombwe and Tungwarara.

Police recovered 5kgs of the bushbuck meat from Mukombwe’s residence at Zambezi Camp.

The buck was valued at $1 000 and meat worth $167 was recovered.

Rosemani said in coming up with her sentence she considered that the two were first offenders.

“You have already suffered a lot of embarrassment for being arrested for such a small portion of meat considering your jobs and sending you to jail would be unfair,” she said.

“However, you were employed to protect these animals and you are the ones who are being found violating the same laws you are supposed to enforce.”