In a recent case, a man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for unlawfully killing a protected black rhino, valued at US$120,000.
According to the State, on July 14, 2022, the man, identified as Nyoni, along with four others, hunted and killed a black rhino at the Bubye Valley Conservancy in Beitbridge. The rhino was fatally shot with a .375 rifle, which belonged to Nyoni. Following the killing, they proceeded to dehorn the rhino using an axe, and the horns were subsequently sold in Harare.
The illegal activity came to light when game scouts discovered the offense, along with the recovery of an empty cartridge from the .375 rifle. After a report was made to the police, Prince Mudenda was arrested and implicated Nyoni in the crime.
In a separate incident, a 53-year-old man named Lameck Shumba from Beitbridge was arrested for the unlawful possession of two rhino horns. Acting on a tip-off, the police learned that Shumba, together with his accomplices Prosper Zengeya and Abelina Nangai (who are currently at large), were in possession of black rhino horns and were seeking buyers from South Africa. Posing as potential buyers, the police arranged a meeting at Pagomba Sports Bar in Beitbridge, where they subsequently apprehended Shumba. However, Zengeya managed to escape from the scene.
Shumba has been remanded in custody until April 16 pending further legal proceedings.
