BY JUDITH SIBANDA AND TANAKA MREWA
A Zimbabwe Republic Police officer who allegedly teamed up with six other people and killed a lion at a safari area in Victoria Falls has been arrested.
Constable Mascot Mbavari (35) who is based at ZRP Fairbridge in Bulawayo was arrested together with Anymore Sikuka (37), Vester Chimidzi (43), Buyuya Sikuka (48), Kissmore Munsaka (32) and Marumisa Munashe (32) after Victoria Falls police received a tip-off that they were selling a lion head and skin without a permit.
They appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Gift Dube on Wednesday facing two counts of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Munsaka and Munashe were slapped with a third count for hunting an animal in a safari area.
They were all remanded in custody to November 27.
According to court records, Anyomore and Buyuya Sikuka in the company of Chimidzi were on November 10, arrested outside OK supermarket in the resort town following a tip off.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the other gang members.
State representative Sithabile Daka narrated to the court that on November 3 2019, the crew connived and removed a female lion from BH 19 and took it to 5523 Mkhosana suburb.
Daka said the crew was arrested on November 10 after they were caught red handed by the police, who had set a trap to catch them, with the alleged lion parts.
The remaining carcass was recovered at the house in Mkhosana suburb.
