A Zimbabwe Parks game ranger, a serving and ex Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer appeared before a Harare Magistrate, accused of illegal possession of elephant tusks as reports of crime against law enforcement agents skyrocket.
The trio was caught following a tip-off on the 4th of April 2022 at Kamfinsa Shopping Centre in Harare while in possession of 8 pieces of unmarked elephant tusks weighing 28,35 kilograms valued at ZWL $703 574,00.
Simibio Kakomo (38) employed as a ranger by Zimpark, Shepherd Musiniwa (31) a constable, and Ernest Kabonda (44) an ex ZRP officer stand accused of contravention of Section 82(1) (b) of the Parks and Wildlife General Regulations Statutory Instrument 362/1990 ARW Section 128 (1) (b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20;14 ‘Unlawful Possession of Unmarked Raw Ivory,’.
According to court papers, police received a tipoff that the three were in possession of elephant tusks and were in search of potential buyers.
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Detectives from CID MFFU Harare posed as potential buyers in an attempt to lure the three and using two vehicles, the team of detectives met with Kabonda at a fuel station in Harare and he led them to the other two who were waiting with the ivory.
The accused persons then jumped into the car driven by the police officers for negotiations, before agreeing to sell the ivory for US$50.00 per kilogram.
After striking the agreement Kakomo and Musiniwa then brought the ivory to their potential buyers leading to their arrest.
The trio was remanded in custody and will be back in court on 20 April 2022.
