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Chitown men charged with illegal possession of ivory

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TWO Chitungwiza brothers Tererai and Arnold Murambatsvina appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei last Friday charged with illegal possession of 12kg of ivory.

TWO Chitungwiza brothers Tererai and Arnold Murambatsvina appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei last Friday charged with illegal possession of 12kg of ivory.

PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI

They were not asked to plead to charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act and were remanded in custody to March 10.

Although Tererai (43) pleaded with the court to release him so he could lead the police to recover another ivory tusk from their supplier, Ndirowei advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecutor Francesca Mukumbiri told the court that on February 24 this year, police detectives received a tip-off that some ivory dealers were in possession of ivory, looking for potential buyers in Chitungwiza. A team of detectives set a trap for the two brothers, who live together, while another team mounted a roadblock along Seke Road.

The plainclothes detectives posed as potential buyers and lured the suspects to produce the ivory tusks. Arnold (23) allegedly loaded two bags containing ivory into the detectives’ vehicle after agreeing to transact in Harare. The brothers were formally arrested at the roadblock at the corner of Seke and Delport roads, leading to the recovery of three tusks valued at $3 000.

Tererai allegedly attempted to flee, but was immediately arrested.