Quartet jailed for unlawful possession of ivory

Faith Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter

A group of four men were convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison by a Hwange magistrate on charges of unlawful possession of raw ivory.

According to a statement by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) the quartet namely, Wilson Chuma (43), Billiard Nyoni (29), Morris Mumpande (33) and Amos Mleya (44) were found in possession of the ivory after yhe police received a tipoff to the effect that they were looking for buyers.

“On the 3rd of February the Police acted on the tipoff and acted as potential buyers and arranged for a meeting with the accused persons,” reads the statement.

“The police then proceeded to the 355-kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road where the quartet showed the Police two pieces of raw unmarked ivory. The police identified themselves and asked the accused persons to produce a permit granting them the authority to possess the ivory and they failed to do so leading to their arrest,” reads the statement.