MATABELELAND professional hunter, Theodore Bronkhorst, accused of illegally translocating 24 sables from Tethford Estate in Mazowe to Musuna Ranch in Matabeleland North province denied he flouted provisions of the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Through his lawyer Advocate Perpetual Dube, Bronkhorst, who is being charged together with his company Cereal Farming, told Bulawayo magistrate, Gladmore Mushove on Wednesday that all his actions were above board.
In his defence, Bronkhorst denied owning or breeding sables in his personal capacity, saying it was a commercial enterprise done by his firm Cereal Farming (Pvt) Ltd.
“The sables were purchased by the company, which remains legally responsible for them and to which liability for any breach of law will attach,” Dube submitted.
“All actions he took were in his capacity as director of the company and no criminal liability should attach to him in his personal capacity.”
Dube submitted the company purchased the sables from Mazowe with the intention of taking them to Musuna Ranch in Matabeleland North.
“It was, however, prevented from doing so by various factors such as foot and mouth disease in Matabeleland North, but did not affect Umguza district, breaking down of truck in which the sables were being transported, prohibitive costs of transporting feeds from Bulawayo to Matetsi and the company’s intention to locate premises close to the city to conduct its breeding enterprise at,” Dube said.
She further said Bronkhorst left the sables at the property in Bulawayo under the custody of his company.
It is the State’s case that on September 26, 2014, Bronkhorst obtained a Parks and Wildlife permit number 59 (4) (9) and (b) 39/2014 for the translocation of the 24 sables bought by his firm from Tethford Estate in Mazowe to Musuna Ranch trading as Bushman Safaris in Hwange.
He also allegedly obtained permit number 648319B from Veterinary Department to support the Parks and Wildlife permit.
However, the veterinary permit specified that the sables were to be moved from Tethford Estate Mazoe to Musuna Ranch within seven days but contrary to these conditions, on September 29, 2014, they moved the sables on the strength of the two permits to stand number 15 and 16 Bulawayo Drive Douglasdale in Bulawayo.
The matter was remanded to February 15 with Jeremiah Mutsindikwa prosecuting.
Bronkhorst helped an American kill a popular lion named Cecil in an allegedly illegal hunt near Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe.
Wearing sunglasses and a camouflage cap and jacket, Theo Bronkhorst appeared in a court in Hwange town last year , where he faces charges of failing to prevent an unlawful hunt. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
