A SUSPECTED poacher was killed while his accomplice escaped
following a shootout with game rangers on Wednesday at Bubye Valley
Conservancy, some 60km west of Beitbridge town.
The two men allegedly killed a male lion, before rangers
caught up with them while in the process of killing a black rhinoceros.
National police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi yesterday said investigations into the matter were underway.
He said the body of the deceased whose identity is yet to
be established was taken to Beitbridge District Hospital Mortuary. Asst Comm
Nyathi said they were still pursuing the second suspect.
“Preliminary investigations are that the now deceased and
his accomplice went to Bubye Valley Conservancy armed with a rifle to illegally
hunt.
The two then came across a young male lion which they shot
and killed prompting the game rangers who were on patrol in the area to respond
after hearing the gunshots,” he said.
“The rangers then tracked the spoor and caught up with the
suspected poachers whom they found in the process of killing a black rhinoceros
and ordered the two men to surrender. However, the duo opened fire resulting in
a shoot-out with the game rangers and one of the poachers was shot and killed”.
Asst Comm Nyathi warned people against poaching saying the
long arm of the law will catch up with them. Poaching is rife in conservancies
in Beitbridge District.
In 2018, two notorious poachers, Celestino Shate (35) of
Bulawayo and Faso Moyo (42) of Victoria Falls were jailed for an effective 10
years each after they were caught hunting for rhinoceroses in Bubye Valley
Conservancy. Chronicle
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