A Chiridzi couple allegedly killed an elephant and extracted its tusks which were found by Parks ranchers during a search of their home.
Innocent Chiwanza (28) and his wife Angeline Sithole (22) of Farm 25 Hippo Valley appeared before Magistrate Diana Masiwa on Wednesday to face charges of illegal possession of raw ivory and were remanded in custody until April 12, 2024.
Prosecutor Morblising Rusiri said Chiwanza and Sithole killed an elephant for its tusks. Three game wardens from Malilangwe conducted a search of the couple’s home at midnight on 6 March 2024.
The farm owners discovered an elephant tusk wrapped in a plastic bag at Chiwanza’s home. The couple denied it was the tusk, but said the wife got it from her church at an apostolic shrine for protection.
The guards also found two spears, arrows and a knife under the couple’s bed. Ivory has been confirmed by ecologists. Masvingo mirror
