Thieves steal US$50 000 worth of solar panels at Hwange National Park

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

THIEVES have stolen about US$50 000 worth of solar panels installed to pump water for wildlife in at Hwange National Park.

The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has offered a reward of US$2 500 for information leading to recovery of the panels and apprehension of suspects.

The game park is home to wild animals like elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes and rhinos that draw tourists from around the world.

Vast stretches of the scenic animal sanctuary use borehole water and about 80 percent of the boreholes are solar powered.

Without solar power, thousands of animals may succumb to thirst and this may affect one of the country’s greatest tourist drawcards.

In 2018, national parks received 957 752 tourists.

The tourism sector is estimated to have generated $1,050 billion in receipts from international tourists, marking a seven percent growth from $917 million in 2017.

Zimbabwe recorded 2,6 million international tourist arrivals in 2018, 6 percent up from 2,4 million received in 2017.

Zimparks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo yesterday said: “We have a problem of people who are stealing solar panels. We have recorded several incidents where solar panels have been stolen and we are worried that if we continue losing solar panels at this rate, we may not be able to continue pumping water for wildlife.”

He said in some cases the solar panels were destroyed by elephants at watering holes.

“We have lost US$50 000 worth of solar panels and this means we can’t pump water for animals if this continues. We are offering a reward for information that can lead us to recover the property or arrest suspects,” said Mr Farawo.

ZimParks installed solar power on a majority of boreholes especially in Hwange National Park with the help of conservation partners including tourism players, which is now incapacitated by the Covid-19 induced lockdowns.

Sources told the Chronicle that some villagers from surrounding communities working with suspected poachers from Zambia are responsible for vandalism of the solar panels in the national park.

Mr Farawo could not be drawn into commenting about the issue, saying investigations are in progress.

Meanwhile, Mr Farawo said the wildlife authority is on high alert following mysterious death of elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta where 110 jumbos had been reported dead last Friday since the start of last month.

Wildlife from the two countries freely migrate across borders.

According to Botswana media, wildlife officials ruled out poaching and poisoning as no ivory was taken. Initial test results also ruled out anthrax leaving the country in mystery about the cause of death.

Botswana has the world’s largest elephant population, at more than 130,000.

Last year dozens of jumbos died both in Zimbabwe and Botswana due to hunger.

Mr Farawo said no elephant deaths have been recorded in Zimbabwe so far.

“On that one there will be need for scientific research but for now we haven’t recorded any incidents. Around this time last year, we had recorded some elephant death incidents but this year nothing has happened hence we are not yet worried but we are monitoring,” he said.

Source: Thieves steal US$50 000 worth of solar panels at Hwange National Park (03/06/20)

Norwegian Tourist Loses Tooth, Valuables in Victoria Falls Robbery

A Norwegian tourist lost a front tooth after a suspected robber punched her on the face before fleeing into the bush with her handbag containing travel documents, Visa card and US$70 on Friday evening.

According to a report made to the police, Eva Katrine Alltras, aged 37, was in the company of a male counterpart believed to be her husband when the incident happened.

The couple was reportedly booked with Shearwater Adventures, a leading tour operator in Victoria Falls.

The robbery occurred near Three Monkeys Restaurant at the railway line as Alltras and the male partner walked past the railway line from town to Shearwater Explorer's Village lodge where they were booked.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Sergeant Namatirai Mashona said she was yet to get details of the attack.

However, according to the report made at Victoria Falls police station, Alltras suffered minor injuries and lost one tooth after the suspected thief punched her as she and the male partner attempted to wrestle her bag.

She also allegedly fell to the ground after the attack and sustained minor bruises on the hand.

The tourist was rushed to The Health Bridge private hospital where she was treated and discharged.

In a separate incident, another tourist (details not given) who was a client of the same operator lost a digital camera at Jafuta Game Reserve where he was doing wildlife research as part of his studies.

The suspect, Ronald Muzamba, aged 28 and residing at Woodlands Farm outside Victoria Falls town was arrested after game rangers tracked his footprints.

Muzamba was charged with theft when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Rangarirai Gakanje fro allegedly stealing the digital camera valued at RTGS$2 000.

In his defence, Muzamba claimed he had picked the camera.

The magistrate sentenced him to 12 months in prison before suspending two months on condition of good behaviour.

The remaining 10 months were suspended on condition that he completed 315 hours of community service at Masuwe Primary School.

Prosecutors said the unnamed client had been using the digital camera which belonged to Shearwater as he was conducting a research.

Muzamba was tracked to Monde where he had gone to watch a boozers' soccer match.

A number of tourists have lost property in the country's prime tourist district of Hwange which covers Victoria Falls.

In October this year, a British couple Robert Talbort and wife Andrea Moxham Talbort lost two cannon cameras and two lances, a Sumsung mobile phone handset, a purse containing US$300, a canvas safari bag, sunglasses and make-up bag when two robbers broke into their tent in which they were sleeping.

The couple was on holiday and booked at Hides Safari Camp in Dete.

Management at the private lodge on the edge of Hwange National Park offered RTGS$16 000 to any person with information about the two suspected robbers.

The value of stolen property was 2 990 Pounds and US$300.

Source: Norwegian Tourist Loses Tooth, Valuables in Victoria Falls Robbery (08/12/19)

Vic Falls police probes arms cache

POLICE in Victoria Falls are investigating a case where wildlife rangers found two metal boxes 0f ammunition with 1 500 rounds in the Zambezi National Park.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and said investigations have been launched to establish the source of the arms cache.

“I can confirm that we received a report about such an incident and police are currently conducting investigations into the source of the ammunition,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He appealed to members of the public to come forward with information or to report to the police if they come across any suspicious objects anywhere.

Mr Posent Mudenda, a Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority ranger stumbled on the arms in Kalisosa area in Zambezi National Park while leading a team of five wildlife researchers from Lion Encounter last Friday.

They found two metal boxes of 7.62mm ammunition with about 1 500 rounds inside.

They reported the matter to the police and handed over the ammunition.

A specialist team from the police and Zimbabwe National Army attended the scene.

Source: Vic Falls police probes arms cache (04/10/19)

Vic Falls ‘serial robber’ arrested in Zambia hide-out

A SUSPECTED serial criminal who allegedly terrorised Victoria Falls residents and tourists for four years, breaking into houses and hotels, has been arrested at his hide-out in Zambia.

Since 2014, Bongani Moyo (38), a Zimbabwean who was staying illegally in Livingstone, at number D37 Lubuyu Compound had been allegedly crossing into Victoria Falls illegally and he would break into cars, houses and hotels. He allegedly stole cash, electrical gadgets such as TV sets, laptops, digital cameras and their accessories, cellphone handsets, clothes and other valuables running into thousands of dollars.

The court heard that Moyo also used violence and threatened to kill the victims. The total value of stolen property was not given but according to state documents, there are 27 different types of cellphone handsets, six cameras, four laptops and a bicycle among other valuables.

Moyo is facing a combined 34 counts, unlawful entry, theft, criminal trespass, robbery as well as entering and exiting Zimbabwe through an ungazetted point.

Victoria Falls magistrate, Ms Rangarirai Gakanje, remanded Moyo who was not asked to plead, in custody to next week on Wednesday. The magistrate ordered an investigation into claims by Moyo that he was severely beaten by police whom he alleged forced him to admit to the charges.

The prosecutor, Mr Listen Nare, opposed bail saying Moyo is a flight risk and can commit more crimes since he has been convicted five times before by the same court.

“The State is opposed to bail based on the fact that the accused faces charges of exiting and entering the border illegally. He was arrested in Zambia and it is our submission that bail conditions cannot surface as he can escape jurisdiction and go to Zambia or any other neighbouring country,” said Mr Nare.

He said investigations were still underway to account for some of the property that was recovered by police in Zambia.

Mr Nare said the crimes were committed between September 2014 and last week. Moyo would use unknown objects to force open doors and windows into premises, the court was told.

In the first count, Moyo illegally crossed into Victoria Falls on September 7 in 2014 and broke into a house belonging to Mr Stanfordias Ndlovu in Aerodrome suburb.

He stole a laptop, a video camera, an HTC and a Blackberry cellphone handsets all valued at $1 200.
“On October 11, 2017, complainant Danieala Elazar (27) of Eric Magalson Apartment, Jerusalem, Israel, closed his door and windows on retiring to bed.

The accused force opened the door and entered the house. The accused threatened to kill the complainant and forcibly took $1 500 and clothing valued at $1 600,” said the prosecutor.
The court was told that Moyo broke into several hotels and lodges, and stole cash and valuables from clients’ rooms.

In May last year, Moyo allegedly broke into Breeze FM premises at 220 Kingsway and stole a Samsung tablet cellphone and an iPhone 5 both valued at $700 belonging to presenter Thanduxolo Ndlovu.

Some of the victims were tourists booked at various hotels while others were mostly hotel employees whom he knew had valuables and cash, the court was told.

Moyo was traced to his hide-out in Livingstone after breaking into Zambezi Horse Trails on February 28 where he threatened to kill the owner Ms Alison Baker (61) with a knife after forcibly opening doors to her bedroom using a sharp object.

Moyo was allegedly in the company of two accomplices who are still at large when they stole cash in different currencies, a pellet gun and some valuables worth about $3 000.

Source: Vic Falls ‘serial robber’ arrested in Zambia hide-out (13/03/18)

Vic Falls Carnival thieves nabbed

TWO Harare men who stole cellphones from revellers during last year’s iFlix Victoria Falls Carnival, have each been sentenced to 21 months in jail.

Tatenda Katemanyengo, George Makuvire and Takudzwa Mawire also of Harare who is at large, were found in possession of an IPhone and two Samsung smart phones stolen during the carnival.
Mawire who defaulted after the trio was granted bail in January, has since been issued with a warrant of arrest. Katemanyengo and Makuvire will, however, serve an effective 17 months in jail after four months of their sentence was suspended on condition of good behaviour.

They were also ordered to pay $50 compensation for the property they damaged at the Victoria Falls lodge where they were booked.

The phones were discovered in a torn mattress in their room at the lodge.

Katemanyengo and Makuvire pleaded not guilty to theft of the cellphones and malicious damage to property before Ms Lindiwe Maphosa.

They were, however, convicted of theft and malicious damage to property due to overwhelming evidence against them.

Source: Vic Falls Carnival thieves nabbed (01/03/18)

'100 tourists robbed in Victoria Falls hotels'

ABOUT 100 tourists have been robbed while booked at hotels in Victoria Falls in the last four months.

Chegutu West legislator Dexter Nduna said this in Parliament on Thursday and called on the Government to strengthen security in resort areas to protect tourists who bring highly sought after foreign currency in the country.

Nduna urged the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development to look into issues of security for tourists, especially in Victoria Falls where about 100 robberies have been recorded in the last four months.

"The Committee on Transport and Infrastructure has done quite well resulting in infrastructure development at Victoria Falls Airport which has seen a rise in tourists arrivals in the resort town.

"Be that as it may, what has now occurred in the past four months is that about 100 tourists were robbed while booked in hotels in Victoria Falls. If this is not attended to, it will have a negative effect on the efforts done in infrastructure development," said Nduna.

He said it was important for the relevant authorities to prioritise strengthening of security in Victoria Falls and other resort towns.

"This is why I stand to ask that relevant authorities look at this scourge that is about to reverse the gains that the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure has brought to this country," said Nduna.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mabel Chinomona urged Nduna to bring up the issue as a motion.

Tourist arrivals to Victoria Falls increased by 21 percent in the first six months of this year following the expansion of the airport which can now take 1.5 million visitors a year.

Eight airlines now fly into Victoria Falls after Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South Africa's Airlink started flying into the resort town, joining British Airways, Air Zimbabwe, South African Airways, Fastjet and Air Namibia.

In its latest report, hospitality group, Africa Albida Tourism said the resort town had recorded a 32 percent increase in international visitors to 84 249 between January and June this year from 63 016 during the comparable period last year.


Source: '100 tourists robbed in Victoria Falls hotels' (23/10/17)

Victoria Falls Airport thieves kept in lock-up

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

FOUR villagers from Lupinyu near Victoria Falls International Airport who broke into a compound at the airport and stole household property worth $6 600 yesterday appeared in court facing theft and housebreaking charges.

The villagers allegedly cut the perimeter fence at the airport to gain entry into the compound, which houses workers and management of the Chinese company, China Jiangsu that upgraded the airport.
Dalubuhle Kona (32), Ceasemore Nyoni (25), Khulumani Ngwenya (30) and Nkosiyazi Kugedera (23) all from Lupinyu BH114 under Chief Mvuthu were convicted on their own plea by Victoria Falls resident magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa.

She remanded them in custody to today for sentencing. The four accused committed the crimes between April 13 and 17. The complainant in the matter is Mr Simbarashe Gomo, an engineer who had been left in charge of the premises in the absence of his workmates.

“On April 13 at about 3.30PM the complainant left for Bulawayo after closing all windows and doors. During the period April 13 to 16, and during the complainant’s absence, the accused persons forced open a bedroom and toilet window to gain entry,” said the prosecutor.

The court was told that on April 20, Mr Gomo returned from Bulawayo and discovered that his cottage had been broken into and made a report to the police.

From his house property worth, $4 967 was stolen while the rest was stolen from two other houses.
The stolen property includes laptops, plasma TV sets, beds, clothes, electrical gadgets, tables and chairs, kitchen utensils and blankets among others.

Following the quartet’s arrest property valued at $6 480 was recovered. Mr Listen Nare is appearing for the State.

@ncubeleon

Source: Victoria Falls Airport thieves kept in lock-up (03/05/17)

Hyena spotted dragging a human body near Victoria Falls

Two motorists approaching Victoria Falls this week were horrified to see a hyena dragging a human body, a conservationist told News24.

According to the publication, it later emerged that the hyena had not killed the woman, but had found her body after she committed suicide.

"It was about 3km from the town. It's a big tar road and they saw this hyena was dragging a body,"  Trevor Lane of the Bhejane Trust told News24.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials were alerted and came to track the hyena.

They found what was left of the body more than 1km from the road, just outside the hyena's den. Lane was told that it was the torso and the top of the chest.

Further investigations revealed the woman had had an argument with her husband and hit him with an axe. Thinking she had killed him she fled into the nearby national park and committed suicide.

"The hyena didn't kill her. Hyenas are scavengers: they just found the body."

Hyena attacks on humans are rare in Zimbabwe, but they frequently prey on their cattle. The Chronicle newspaper reported on Thursday that a single hyena had killed more than 30 cattle in the Bubi District in southern Zimbabwe since the beginning of the year.

The rural district council hired a professional hunter to kill the animal, the paper said.

One hyena was killed in the district last year. A 10-year-old lost her eye in 2013 when a hyena attacked and injured five villagers in the Buhera district of eastern Zimbabwe.

Source: Hyena spotted dragging a human body near Victoria Falls (23/07/16)

Vic Falls man in court for robbing Swiss couple

A VICTORIA Falls man who allegedly broke into a lodge at night and robbed, under duress, a Swiss couple that was on holiday in the resort town has been dragged to court.

Josphat Ncube, 28, is alleged to have pounced on the sleeping couple-Sofia Surla and Dabrila Nesic-Surla, who were booked at Imvelo Gorges Lodge on April 2 this year.

Prosecutor Listen Nare said Ncube was in the company of two Zambians identified as Njamba Toloto and Takanyala who are on the run.

They allegedly stole cameras, a suitcase with clothes and cash amounting to $500 and 30 Swiss Francs.

Part of the property was recovered on the Zambian side near Livingstone where Ncube was arrested at a roadblock during the same night as he and his alleged accomplices illegally crossed into the neighbouring country but ended in the hands of the police.

The alleged Zambian accomplices evaded arrest as they fled leaving Ncube, the court was told.

Ncube appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani on Friday to answer to unlawful entry, robbery and violating the Immigration Act.

Zambian authorities handed Ncube to ZRP on his release from prison on Monday after he had served 30 days for the offense of illegally crossing into that country following his arrest on April 2.

On Friday, the magistrate denied him bail after the prosecutor opposed it on the grounds that he was a flight risk.

Ncube denied the charges, saying the two Zambians had hired him to help them carry the loot to the neighbouring country. He was remanded in custody to June 3.

Nare said Ncube and his alleged accomplices used a craw bar to force open the door into a room where their victims were sleeping.

Ncube and colleagues allegedly ransacked the room and stole cameras, a suitcase with clothes and the cash.

It is alleged that Ncube, and his alleged accomplices crossed the border into Zambia at about midnight but ran out of luck when they were intercepted at a roadblock and searched leading to the recovery of stolen property.

Ncube was allegedly found in possession of Sofia’s Master Card, a university ID card under the name Erasmus, and some insurance cards.

Source: Vic Falls man in court for robbing Swiss couple (27/05/15)

3 guards murdered in robbery at tourism company (Livingstone, Zambia)

Criminals in Livingstone strangled three security guards to death and blew a safe with dynamite at tourism operator Baoka Sky, before getting away with K48,000 cash.

Engineer Zulu aged 35 of Linda Compound, Masiliso Sikombwa 35 of Dambwa Site and Service and Adam Siateba of Linda Compound, all working for Panorama Security were strangled with sisal ropes between 01:00 hours and 02:00 hours this morning.

Southern Province Police Commissioner Mary Chikwanda said the victims were found tied up with sisal ropes around their necks.

“I can confirm that a very un-fortunate incident occurred at Batoka Sky Adventures where three security guards belonging to Panorama Security Company, were strangled and the criminals went away with K48,000 cash,” Ms Chikwanda said. “Unfortunately, the trio were alone at the Batoka Sky premises when the incident occurred and the suspects are on the run,” she said.

Ms Chikwanda said two of the victims were found already dead in the morning while the other one died on arrival at Livingstone General Hospital.

She said the unfortunate incident was as a result of companies engaging security firms that had no capacity to combat serious crime.

Panorama Security Company is one of several professional private security operations who offer security services to local businesses and inidviduals. Presumably gaurds are are fully trained in handling and reacting to emergency situations and the have support and backup from mobile units. There would also have been security alarm systems on site and security on neighbouring properties.

Ms Chikwanda has since advised companies that keep huge sums of money at their premises to engage proper security companies that are armed in order to safeguard both property and lives.

Batoka Sky is part of Livingstone’s Adventure Group of Companies.

Three Batoka Sky guards strangled to death - Lusaka Voice (5/08/14)

Tourists fined for stealing boat

The trio was convicted of two counts of contravening Section 116 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 (unlawful borrowing or use of property) and contravening Section 129 (1) (3) as read with Section 37 (1) (b) of the Parks and Wildlife Regulations 1262/1990 of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Chapter 20:12 (using a vessel during the night).

Trzcinski, Dabrowski and Perini were convicted on their own plea of guilty. For the first count, they were each fined $200 (or four months in prison) and $300 each (or five months in prison) for the second count. It was the State case as presented by the prosecutor, Miss Namatai Ngwashi, that on 23 September at around 4pm, the three tourists arrived in Victoria Falls from South Africa and were booked at A ‘Zambezi River Lodge.

At 11pm, the trio went to Zambezi Fishing Safaris jetty along the Zambezi River. While at the jetty they untied a fishing boat which was docked, belonging to Mr Cornelis Jacob Gelduys of House Number 550 Aerodrome, Victoria Falls, who is the director of Zambezi Fishing Safaris and peddled it into the Zambezi River waters, putting the boat to use without the complainant’s authority. After peddling for about two hours, Trzcinski, Dabrowski and Perini returned the boat to the jetty. The hotel authorities discovered the offence and alerted the police at Victoria Falls leading to their arrest. The boat is valued at $6 000 and was recovered.

Source: Tourists fined for stealing boat  (28/09/12)