A poaching suspect arrested in Beitbridge at the Bubi Conservancy after a heated exchange of gunfire with game rangers while allegedly hunting the endangered rhino has skipped bail and is on the run.
BY SILAS NKALA
Nhamo Kufakunesu (38) of Glen View 8, Harare, who was supposed to appear before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya on Tuesday defaulted, prompting the State to ask the court to issue a warrant of arrest. Tashaya granted the State’s request and police have since launched a manhunt for the poaching suspect.
Kufakunesu was out of custody on $100 bail.
He was arrested on January 1 2017 by game rangers at the Bubi Conservancy in Beitbridge, while allegedly hunting for rhinoceros and faces a charge of contravening section 45 (1) (a) of the Parks and Wild Life Act Chapter 2014.
Allegations against Kufakunesu are that on January 1 this year he was at Bubi Conservancy in Beitbridge where he was allegedly found hunting for rhinoceros. Kufakunesu was in the company of other accomplices who are still at large. The alleged poachers were armed with a .303 rifle and .458 rifle.
It is the State case that Kufakunesu allegedly exchanged gun fire with the game rangers when he realised that he had been spotted and was in danger. Following his arrest, he was found in possession of 14 rounds of .458 rifle and 10 rounds of .303 rifle ammunition.