Ellen Mlambo

TWO NATIONS REPORTER

BEITBRIDGE- A Chiredzi man was slapped with nine years in jail for unlawful possession of ivory when he appeared before Beitbridge Resident Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba on Wednesday. 

Oliver Matimure (25) of Chinyatu Village under Chief Sengwe in Chiredzi did not prove any special circumstances for him not get the mandatory sentence.

The complainant in the matter is the State represented by a Police officer, Honest Zvoushe who is stationed at CID Minerals Flora and Fauna unit, Beitbridge.

Prosecuting, Pithey Magumula said on August 9 2022, a team of detectives from CID Minerals Flora and Fauna unit, Beitbridge were deployed at spillway, an illegal crossing point along Limpopo River and they saw Matimure crossing from the South Africa side carrying a black travelling bag.

They stopped him, identified themselves and told him that they wanted to do some searches and he complied. 

They recovered an elephant tusk which was cut into two pieces so that it could fit into the bag and detectives asked him if he had any permit or licence which allowed him to be in possession of the ivory and he failed to produce one.

He was arrested and the recovered ivory was taken to Zimbabwe National Parks where it weighed 6kgs.