4 Vic Falls poachers nabbed

FOUR suspected poachers from Victoria Falls are set to appear in court this week on allegations of snaring an impala and kudu, whose meat they later sold at a butchery at Lupinyu business centre.

Officer commanding Victoria Falls district, Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona confirmed the arrest of Sibusiso Mpala (28), Anorld Mhlanga (20), Clifford Nyathi (28) and Khulumani Nkomo (40) all from Sikabela village in Woodlands.

“They are helping with investigations and will be appearing in court soon, charged with trapping animals using snares and removal of animals from one place to the other,” he said.

According to a fellow villager, the four sold game meat at Lupinyu business centre near Victoria Falls International Airport.

“On the day of their arrest, Mpala, Mhlanga and Nyathi were spotted carrying snares at night heading for Nkomo’s butchery at night,” she said.

“Nkomo hired them to poach wild animals and he sold the meat. He was making lots of money out of it, but we did not have evidence to report him, so when we saw his accomplices carrying snares and entering his butchery, we then alerted rangers at Fuller Forest.

“Police and rangers came and found Nkomo in possession of impala and kudu meat stored in his coolers, while snares were hidden behind the counter and he revealed that he was in business with other three,” the villager said.

Source: 4 Vic Falls poachers nabbed (24/02/18)