Ngoni Dapira

TWO men who were recently arrested by the police in Mutare after being found in possession of a pangolin, which is an endangered animal specie, have been further remanded in custody to August 22 for their trial hearing.

The two, Tapiwa Machaya (43) from Bikita and Rodrick Murambisi (32) from Marondera are facing charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.

They appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Tendai Mahwe last week Thursday. Representing the State, Sharon Chibvongodze said the suspects must be remanded in custody because they are a flight risk, given the seriousness of the offense they are facing. Magistrate Mahwe set the trial hearing for 22 August.

According to the State outline, the Central Intelligence Department (CID) Mutare received a tip off on July 16 that the accused were in possession of a pangolin and were looking for buyers. Some CID officers were sent out impersonating to be prospective buyers, whilst another squad of CID officers was hidden nearby on standby to immediately arrest the accused after confirmation of possession of a pangolin.

The meeting was set up at a local hotel and the two accused came with six other people (Names withheld), who were released after cross examination, but will serve as State witnesses during the trial. The detectives posed as potential buyers of the pangolin before arresting the suspects.

“The accused went to the local hotel in a Toyota Aqua. The accused negotiated US$6000 and the CID detectives undercover agreed. The accused then went to their car to show the detectives the pangolin which was in a blue brown satchel that was wrapped in a white sack. After seeing the pangolin the undercover detectives signaled the other detectives who came to arrest the accused. The accused were asked to produce a permit or licence for possession of an endangered specie, but they did not have one, which led to their arrest,” read the State outline.

All pangolin species are protected under national and international laws, and are threatened with extinction, as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The meat of pangolins is considered a delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional medicines as they are believed to treat different ailments. In 2020 alone, at least 82 people were reportedly arrested for illegal possession of the pangolins in Zimbabwe. They also recovered 17 pangolins and over 1000 kilogrammes of pangolin scales.

During the same period, the ZRP handled 40 such cases and of the 82 arrests, 12 of them were convicted and sentenced to an effective nine years each for possession of pangolins.

Contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act is punishable offense with some convictions reaching up to nine years depending on the type of endangered species that one would have poached.

There are strong myths associated with pangolins that people have believed for a long time. For instance, some believe that with a live pangolin and a good witch doctor, the witch doctor can use the pangolin to multiply money, leading to high demand for the animal.

There are other beliefs of spiritual uses of pangolins. The scales are considered important for spiritual protection and the treatment of convulsions. The head is important for the treatment of infertility, while the meat is used for preparing charms for chiefs or tribal leaders.