Rangers kill poachers, recover weapons of war
Wednesday, 12 December 2012 00:00
Isdore Guvamombe Features Editor
National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers have killed two
elephant poachers in the Dande Safari Area in Mbire north of Guruve and
recovered weapons, among them mortar bombs.
Motor bombs are weapons of war and it is yet to be established why the
poachers had such dangerous arms of war.
Items recovered include three mortar-bombs, one 3008 calibre hunting rifle,
one 3008 spent cartridge, three live 3008 rounds of ammunition and six pairs
of elephant tusks weighing 51,4 kg valued at US$12 850.
Parks public relations manager Ms Caroline Washaya Moyo on Monday said the
two poachers killed were from Mashumbi Pools.
The other three poachers ran away.
“Our rangers had a contact with poachers which resulted in the death of two
armed poachers from Mashumbi Pools in the Usanga Usanga hunting camp area of
Dande Safari Area.
“Rangers observed a human spoor of five suspected poachers in the park and
quickly made a follow up and it was during a contact that the two armed
poachers were killed.
“The killed poachers are Andrew Mapfumo and Last Stephanie from Mazambara
Village in Chief Chitsungo’s area.
“In a bid to cover their tracks the poachers started a veldfire as they left
the park,” she said.
One of the deceased Andrew Mapfumo is a known poacher who has been involved
in elephant poaching since 2005 and was convicted and served a custodial
sentence at Guruve and Bindura prisons.
Meanwhile, another suspected Zambian poacher was shot and killed in
Katombola, Hwange National Park last Saturday. Four others escaped through
the Zambezi River. Parks rangers also recovered two rifles, 14 rounds of
ammunition and food with Zambian labels.
“Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority continues to warn would be
poachers that their efforts will be thwarted and the above cases should
serve as a warning to those who are financing poachers that they are
engaging in risky business,’’ Ms Washaya-Moyo said.