18-Jun-09 2:00 PM CST

Guards Kill Soldier Suspected of Poaching

MASVINGO- An armed soldier was among four suspected poachers shot dead this week in Ruware Conservancy in Chiredzi .

The deaths resulted from an exchange of gunfire between the suspected poachers and a team comprising wildlife guards and the police. The suspected poachers were killed amid reports that some conservancy operators were offering as much as $1 500 to the guards for each dead poacher.

The latest four victims bring to about 14 the number of people who have been shot dead on suspicion that they were poaching in the Lowveld sanctuaries over the past two months.

Marvellous Masvauro (48), a soldier serving with the Zimbabwe National Army and attached to the Operation Maguta project in Masvingo, Jameson Madividze, Bothwell Mazhetesi and Godfrey Dhliwayo were part of the seven-man gang of suspected poachers.

According to the police, the four, armed with rifles, exchanged gun fire with a team of wildlife guards and the police who were on patrol in the conservancy.

The four defied several warnings from the police to disarm, resulting in the exchange of fire.

Masvingo police spokesman Inspector Phibion Nyambo confirmed the incident.

“These people refused to disarm after a combined team of game guards and the police ordered them to do so,” said Nyambo.

“They were shot dead following a shoot-out, and two rifles were recovered together with 20 rounds of ammunition.”

Increased poaching has raised strong fears that some animal species might face extinction if urgent measures are not put in place to curb the practice.

The death of the four brings to at least 14 the number of suspected poachers who have been shot dead in Masvingo province alone in less than two months.

Morris Mutsambiwa, the director of the National Parks and Wildlife Management, has said Zimbabwe risks censure by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) for losing over 80 rhinos within the last 12 months.

Meanwhile police in Masvingo have launched investigations into allegations that conservancy operators in the Lowveld were paying as much as US$1 500 to their wildlife guards and the police to kill poachers.

It emerged yesterday that as a result, police officers and game guards were sometimes reckless in dealing with suspected poachers thereby unnecessarily opening fire.

Inspector Nyambo said: “We are investigating this case because we have seen that several people have lost their lives through poaching.

“It has also come to our attention that conservancy operators have offered huge sums of money of over US$1 500 to those who kill poachers; hence we feel sometimes people are being reckless with their guns when dealing with suspected poachers.”

On Tuesday Johnny Rodrigues, chairman for the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said Inspector Nyambo had issued a strong warning to poachers that the police would not hesitate to shoot them because rhino poaching was on the increase.

“We would like to congratulate the Zimbabwe Republican Police and game rangers who are risking their lives to try and stamp out rhino poaching,” he said. “In the past six weeks, seven rhino poachers have been shot and killed.”

Rodrigues said four poachers who were responsible for the death of three rhinos at Imire near Marondera had been apprehended.

“One was shot and wounded and all four have been arrested,” he said. “They were previously arrested about a year ago but then inexplicably released shortly afterwards. Hopefully this time they will remain in prison where they belong.”

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