Illegal ivory dealers in court

A MAN and a woman have appeared in court for allegedly possessing and selling raw ivory without a licence.

Benhilda Chidumo (32) and Hubbly Mahau (47) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tilda Mazhande charged with contravening the National Parks and Wildlife Management Act after unlawfully acquiring, transferring and selling 6,9 kilogrammes of ivory without licences.

They were advised to apply for bail at the High Court and were remanded in custody to May 23.

It was alleged that on April 2, the police received information that the duo was selling ivory.

Mahau met with Amon Pazvakavambwa who was posing as a buyer at Total service station at the corner of Chinhoyi Street and Samora Machel Avenue.

The court heard that Mahau boarded Pazvakavambwa’s car and they proceeded to Dzivarasekwa where Chidumo was waiting for them.

Mahau did not know that police officers were following them.

He told Pazvakavambwa to pick Chidumo at Dzivarasekwa bus stop and they proceeded to a house in Dzivarasekwa where she kept the elephant tusks.

When they arrived at the house, Chidumo left Pazvakavambwa and Mahau in the sitting room, while she went into one of the rooms and returned with a carrier bag containing the two elephant tusks.

Pazvakavambwa called the police officers who were following them and they arrested the pair.