Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
VICTORIA Falls farmer Tendai Tidings Musasa on Thursday appeared in court charged with stealing an elephant carcass which he later donated to organisers of the 21st February Movement celebrations to mark President Robert Mugabe’s 91st birthday.

The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority shot a problem elephant on February 25 and gave the carcass weighing 950kg to the Woodlands Farm Community for meat but Musasa, 39, and Noah Zulu, 41, also from Woodlands connived to steal it, according to prosecutors.

They allegedly donated it claiming to represent the whole community but the donation, which also reportedly comprised a lion trophy worth $120,000, was declined by organisers of the event.

Musasa and Zulu are jointly charged with theft. The two, who were brought to court by way of summons, pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani.

They were remanded to August 19. Musasa, who is based in Namibia, was remanded on $400 bail while Zulu was granted $200. Musasa was also charged with a separate crime of obstructing the course of justice.

This was after he allegedly sent a WhatsApp messages in March to police officer commanding Victoria Falls district, Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona, alleging that he had lodged an appeal with the First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe, and the matter would not proceed.

The court heard that Musasa alleged that the officer commanding police in the district (Dispol) was trying to steal the meat, which amounted to corruption.

The same messages were forwarded to Alderman Elias Muzamba of Matetsi, who is also a witness in the case.

Musasa’s obstruction charge was not put to trial yesterday as the magistrate remanded the matter to August 20 on $100 bail.

Prosecuting, Listen Nare said ZimParks rangers shot and killed the elephant on February 25 and handed it over to village head, Josphat Sipulila, for villagers to share the meat as per ZimParks specifications.“Before the meat was shared, Zulu came to the scene driving Musasa’s tractor.

“He loaded the carcass onto the trailer and went away to Musasa’s homestead and gave him the meat. Musasa took the carcass and donated it to the 21st February Movement celebrations organising committee,” said Nare.

A witness, Nomsa Moyo, who is the Matetsi National Park area manager, said after shooting a problem animal, ZimParks gave the meat to the community.

She said it had never happened before that an individual could donate the whole carcass.

Moyo said in the event of State functions, ZimParks gives a quota to an authority who then distributes it according to the specific function, and the Woodlands Board had no such mandate.

“After shooting the problem animal which was given to a village head, we heard that the meat was then donated to the 21st February Movement. It has never happened that one person donates a carcass as that is done through the governor.

“The chief also has no such power and it is the community that can decide what to do,” said Moyo.

Musasa and Zulu, through their lawyer, Vuyile Mpofu, claim they were allowed by Acting Chief Mvuthu to donate the meat. They allege that the board made the decision, which Moyo disputed.

She argued that being a member of the board does not give anyone the right to dispose of a carcass unless if it had been in the Woodlands quota.

The carcass worth close to $30,000 was recovered after the organising committee declined it.

The farm, situated outside Victoria Falls town, has been at the centre of a wrangle pitting Musasa on one hand and close to 120 beneficiaries of the land reform programme on the other.