Cop dragged to court after kidnapping man to help him kill elephant (Zimbabwe)

Author(s)

New Zimbabwe

Date Published

VICTORIA FALLS: A daring cop has been arrested after he allegedly force-marched a man he found praying in a bush and used him to track down elephants which he later shot and killed.

Edmore Bhebhe, 37, who is stationed at Fairbridge Support Unit near Bulawayo, appeared before a Victoria Falls magistrate on Wednesday facing a charge of kidnapping and two counts of poaching.

The court was told that Bhebhe committed the crimes in the company of two accomplices who are on the run after evading arrest. Details of the accomplices were not availed in court.

It is alleged that the trio, who were armed with two rifles, force-marched Paul Panganai who they found praying in the bush near Zambezi River Gorges, on a trail of two elephants.

The court heard that they shot and killed the two jumbos and removed tusks before dumping Panganai in the bush as they went away with the ivory.

Panganai reported the matter to the police.

Bhebhe was not asked to plead. He returns to court on Thursday where he is expected to apply for bail.

Prosecuting, Takunda Ndovorwi said: “Bhebhe, who was in the company of two others who are still at large, met Paul Panganai, who was praying near Zambezi Gorges on July 13.

“The accused abducted the informant and force-marched him into the forest ordering him to show them where elephants could be found.”