Special Correspondent
CHIREDZI, (CAJ News) – A VILLAGE head has been arrested for alleged poaching at a major national park in Zimbabwe.
According to local publication, The Lowveld Post, www.lowveldpost.co.zw, the arrest follows the discovery of some carcasses of different animals in his possession.
Indications are the animals were poached from the Gonarezhou National Park.
Among carcasses recovered after operations by the Jamanda Community Conservancy (JCC) scouts and Gonarezhou Conservation Trust (GCT) rangers as well as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) include six female nyala, an impala and a bushbuck.
Spoor was traced to the suspect’s home.
The village head, who presides over the Mahenye community in the district of Chipinge, is appearing before the Chiredzi Magistrate’s Court.
This case is seen as a sad development reversing the gains of the community-based Natural Resources Management efforts.
JCC is a groundbreaking new concept to allow communities to benefit from their own resources.
It was established in 2016, with 7 000 hectares of community land being set aside for the Jamanda community.
JCC shares a 12km boundary with the Gonarezhou National Park allowing wildlife free movement between the two protected areas.
Zimbabwe is among wildlife-rich countries afflicted by rampant poaching.
– CAJ News