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Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
A MAN from Gokwe has been slapped with a nine-year jail term after he was found in possession of a pangolin skin.

Fanuel Muleya, 32, from Mbhobho Village under Chief Negandi, appeared before Gokwe Magistrate Sithabile Zungula yesterday facing one count of possessing material from a specially protected animal without a permit.

Muleya denied the allegations but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.

In passing sentence, Zungula said it was wrong for people to kill specially protected animals for their skins or hides.

The magistrate slapped Muleya with the mandatory nine years in jail.

Prosecuting, Maxwell Tapfira said on April 1 at around 11AM, Constable Mutale and Constable Runde of the Minerals and Border Control Unit in Gokwe together with officials from the Zimbabwe National Parks Authority, were on patrol in Chitekete area when they received information that Muleya was in possession of a live pangolin at Chilimba Business Centre.

“Acting on the information, the team proceeded to Chilimba Business Centre and identified the accused,” said Tapfira.

“Upon arrival, they asked Muleya to produce a live pangolin but he refused.”

The prosecutor said Muleya was searched and a pangolin skin was recovered from his satchel wrapped in a flour packaging paper.

The court heard that he was then asked to produce a permit authorising him to possess a pangolin skin but he failed to do so resulting in his arrest.

A fortnight ago, Letwin Chari, 34, from Gokwe, was slapped with the mandatory nine years imprisonment after she was found in possession of a pangolin.