By Ndumiso Tshuma
A Bulawayo man has been convicted by a Beitbridge Magistrate court on charges of hunting and killing a black rhino.
The black and white rhino species are legally classified as specially protected species, meaning that they are afforded the highest legal protection in the country.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPAZ) stated that on 14 July 2022, the rhino, valued at US$120,000, was killed with a .375 rifle by Greaters Nyoni from Bulawayo, together with James Tapoka Spencer Mharadza and Prince Mudenda, who have already been convicted and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for hunting a rhino at Bubye Valley Conservancy in Beitbridge.
Meanwhile, President Oswell Musekiwa, who collaborated in the crime, is still on the run.
“They killed the rhino using a .375 rifle which belonged to the accused person before they dehorned it using an axe. The rhino horns were sold in Harare,” said NPAZ.
The offence was discovered by game scouts who later recovered an empty cartridge of a .375 rifle, and the matter was then reported to the police.
“On 26 March 2023, Prince Mudenda was arrested for the offence and he implicated the accused person, leading to his subsequent arrest,” said NPAZ.
Nyoni will appear in court on 27 March 2024 for sentencing.
