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Bulawayo Bureau
Three Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority workers have been arrested on allegations of stealing eight elephant tusks from Hwange National Park’s Main Camp strong room.

According to a source privy to the on-goings, ecologist Edwin Makuwe and game rangers Masimba Nyoni and John Pedzi were arrested on Tuesday.

“The three were arrested on Tuesday after their loot was discovered at the Harare International Airport by border control officers and a paper trail was traced back to them leading to the officers and a team of investigators, going to the Main Camp to arrest the trio,” said the source.

Makuwe was part of the team that was investigating the recent fresh cyanide elephant killings that occurred at Main Camp last week where about 10 of the gigantic animals were killed.

ZPWMA public relations manager, Caroline Washaya-Moyo could not be reached for a comment as her cell phone number was unreachable by the time of going to print.

Washaya-Moyo was however, quoted by the AFP as having said: The offence was discovered during X-ray scanning . . . The authority wants to ensure that poaching and illegal smuggling of wildlife and wildlife products is under control.

ZPWMA is on record saying the country was sitting on 70 tonnes of ivory stocks valued at more than $17 million.

Zimbabwe is home to one of Africa’s biggest surviving elephant populations after herds in neighbouring regions of eastern and central Africa were decimated by poaching.