HARARE – A police constable has been sentenced to nine years in jail after he and his accomplice, an ex-cop and Zimparks employee, were found in possession of unmarked ivory in 2022.
Constable Sheperd Musiniwa, 31, parks ranger Simibio Kakomo, 38, and Ernest Kabanda, 44, were jailed by Harare Magistrate Babra Mateko on Wednesday.
Musiniwa and Kabanda were sentenced to nine years imprisonment, while Kakomo is on a warrant of arrest for defaulting judgement.
The trio was nabbed on April 4, 2022, at Kamfinsa Shopping Centre after detectives from CID MFFU Harare received information that there were three male adults who were in possession of elephant tasks and were looking for potential buyers.
The state, represented by Thomas Chanakira, told the court that the detectives posed as potential buyers and contacted Kabanda, whom they met at a Total Service Station on Julius Nyerere Way.
Kabanda led the potential buyers to Kamfinsa Shopping Centre, where they were to meet with his partners and make arrangements for the transaction.
Negotiations were conducted upon arrival at the shopping centre with all parties involved, and a deal was made to sell the ivory for US$50 per kilogram.
After the deal was completed, two of the accused allegedly disappeared behind the nearby buildings, and they emerged carrying a greenish sleeping bag which contained eight pieces of unmarked ivory.
The detectives then introduced themselves to the trio, which led to their arrest.
