Duo in court for trapping animals

Zim Now Writer

Two men, Lovemore Sibanda, 38, and Philani Ncube, 19, were convicted and sentenced at the Magistrates’ Circuit Court sitting in Nyamandlovu on a single count of setting class one wire snares and another count of theft.

The State proved that on April 24, Mazibuko Sibanda, who lives in Village 7, Nyamandlovu, found a set wire snare in a forest near the village. He went back to the village and informed the other villagers who mobilised themselves and tracked the spoor in the forest, leading to the accused person’s arrest.

The National Prosecuting Authority said the accused duo led the villagers to ten other sites where they had set the wire snares.

“On the same day before setting the wire snares, the accused persons were seen by Jane Nyathi’s grandson stealing dry maize cobs and butternuts from Jane Nyathi’s field. When Jane Nyathi’s grandson asked the accused persons, who had given them the authority to harvest crops in the field, they threatened to stab him.

“The complainant’s son went to the field and he saw the accused persons fleeing the scene. The total value stolen was US$88.50 and nothing was recovered. He was able to identify them following their arrest for setting the traps,” the NPA said.

The two were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for Count One and to a further 20 months’ imprisonment for Count Two of which six months were suspended.

A further 11 months were suspended on condition that they perform 385 hours community service.

The remaining three months were suspended on condition that the accused persons pay US$44.50 each as restitution to the complainant.