TWO members of the Zimbabwe National Army appeared before Kariba magistrate, Felix Chaoromwe last week facing poaching charges after they were allegedly found in possession of 55kg zebra meat.
This astonishing development comes less than a week after a Zimbabwean weekly, The Independent  reported THE Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), which last year introduced forced pay leave for soldiers as a cost cutting measure, is struggling to feed soldiers in army barracks countrywide.
The court heard that Might Nyoni (30) and Stephen Jimu (38) were arrested following an ambush by rangers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on February 5 this year.
It was the State’s case that the suspects were ambushed and arrested while aboard a fibre dink at GatsheGatshe Harbour in Lake Kariba.
The third soldier allegedly escaped arrest and fled, leaving behind an FN and AK-47 rifles. Further investigations established the assault rifles belonged to Zimbabwe National Army Parachute Regiment based at Inkomo Barracks in Darwendale.
The value of the hunted zebra is $3 000 and the 55kg of game meat recovered was worth $166. The suspects were remanded in custody to tomorrow for trial.
Last week, another soldier was fined $200 after being caught with 14kg of game meat at Wafa Wafa Base.AMH
