A man from Inyathi was sentenced to nine years in prison after he was found with pangolin skin.
Zimbabwe has one of the strictest laws against pangolin poaching in Africa and pangolins are protected under the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Act, which stipulates that the illegal possession or dealing in a pangolin attracts a mandatory sentence of nine years.
Amen Ndebele (38) from Queen’s Mine Inyathi, Queens Compound was arrested in Bulawayo urban on June 28, 2022, after a tip-off that he had with him a full skin of the ‘protected’ animal.
He was arrested by a Joint team comprising Bulawayo Investigation and Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit Bulawayo.
Ndebele was charged for contravening Section 45 (1)(b) as read with Section 128 (b)of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20:14 of 2001, which is found in possession of a pangolin skin without a permit.
Appearing before Bulawayo Magistrate, Dambudzo Malunga on August 12, 2022, the accused was found guilty of the illegal possession of a pangolin skin and sentenced to nine years.
Naison Chivhayo prosecuted for the state.
Read: https://cite.org.zw/two-men-arrested-for-selling-leopard-skin-pangolin-scales/
