Ranganai Kande of Budiriro 2, Harare, appeared at the
Harare Magistrates Court charged with acquiring and trading in unmarked ivory
without a licence.
He jointly appeared with Tatenda Marufu, who is employed at
Tobacco Processing Zimbabwe and Judah Madamombe, a Continental Millers
employee.
The trio were not asked to plead to the charges when they
appeared before magistrate Mrs Tafadzwa Miti, who remanded them in custody to
August 26. Mrs Miti also advised them to approach the High Court for bail
application.
The State led by Ms Anesu Matorofa alleges that on Heroes
Day at around 8am detectives from Minerals Flora and Fauna unnit, were told
that three men were in possession of unmarked ivory at Glen Norah B Shopping
Centre. The detectives were also told that the trio were scouting for buyers
and were reachable on Madamombe’s phone.
Upon arrival at Glen Norah B shops, one of the detectives
posed as a potential buyer lured Madamombe to Glen Norah High 1 School.
Madamombe is alleged to have led the detectives to new
stands near the Tabernacle Church where they met Kande. The State alleges that
the detectives negotiated to buy the ivory for US$14 000 and the trio agreed.
After the agreement, Madamombe called Marufu to take the
ivory from a nearby bush. It is said
that Marufu took the ivory, which was in a sack, to the detectives. The court
heard that the detectives identified themselves and asked the trio to produce
authority to trade in ivory.
It is alleged that the trio failed to produce the licence
leading to their arrest. Herald
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