Major Ivory Haul Seized in Zimbabwe, Four Charged
n By Delicious Mathuthu n nn n Harare - The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has, on Friday May 30, 2025, arrested four suspects in connection with unlawful possession of 41 pieces of elephant ivory, weighing 237 kilograms. n nn n The suspect
anostrofy By Delicious Mathuthu
Harare - The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has, on Friday May 30, 2025, arrested four suspects in connection with unlawful possession of 41 pieces of elephant ivory, weighing 237 kilograms.
The suspects, identified as Masauso Nevhaya (48), Priscilla Chabata (52), Wonder Bozho (51) and Stanford Mbiriyakura (49), were apprehended by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Braeside.
"ZRP CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna, Harare, acted on a tip and arrested…(the four) for unlawful possession of 41 pieces of ivory weighing 237kgs.
"The suspects, who were looking for potential buyers, were apprehended by detectives in Braeside, along Seke Road, near Telecel Zimbabwe," ZRP Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.
He said the police found the suspects with 35 elephant tusks loaded in brown sacks in a Datsun Go vehicle.
Further investigations led to the recovery of six more tusks from Priscilla Chabata's residence.
Ivory trade has long been a significant threat to elephant populations in Zimbabwe, despite its growth and across the region.
Despite international regulations and conservation efforts, the demand for ivory continues to drive poaching and trafficking globally.
Zimbabwe's elephant population has been vulnerable to poaching, particularly in Hwange National Park, which is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa.
The country's porous borders and corruption also have made it an attractive transit point for ivory traffickers.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has made efforts to strengthen its anti-poaching laws and enforcement, including the establishment of a specialized unit to deal with wildlife crimes.
In Zimbabwe, the penalties for illegal possession of elephant ivory, under the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Act, can be severe, with anyone found guilty facing years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
