Three people have appeared before a Harare magistrate charged with unlawful possession of a pangolin. Vivian Fani (51), Garikai Dzenye (36) and Lodin Kupara (34) were granted $100 bail each on Monday and remanded to October 8 for trial by magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo.
The three were arrested on September 8 after detectives from the Minerals and Border Control Unit got a report that they were in possession of the protected animal near Lafarge Cement Company in Mabvuku.
The detectives managed to locate their vehicle, a blue Pajero Mini, registration number ADU5865, parked near the cement company.
They approached the vehicle and identified themselves, leading to Dzenye attempting to flee from the scene before two warning shots were fired to stop him.
A search was carried out on the vehicle and a live pangolin was recovered in a white sack which was placed in a wooden crate in the boot.
The trio was asked to produce documents authorising them to possess the pangolin, but failed.
The pangolin was handed over to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority where it was valued at $5 000.Herald
