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Grey Mpinganjira

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A CHIHOTA man, who was arrested with a live Egyptian cobra hidden in his laptop bag aboard a commuter omnibus a fortnight ago, has been fined $150. Magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo fined Grey Mupinganjira (32) after a doctor certified him to be sane.

Mupinganjira, of Muhove village in Mahusekwa, pleaded guilty to contravening section 59(2)(b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20.14.

The Act prohibits removal of “any animal or any part of any animal from any land without a permit or licence”. Mupinganjira demanded his snake back on his initial appearance in court, forcing the magistrate to send him for a mental check up. A doctor who examined Mupinganjira said he was normal.

“Religion led Mupinganjira to act in this manner although it is against the law. The court finds that he committed the offence out of ignorance and the court gives him benefit of doubt,” ruled Mr Makomo.

He was fined $150. Failure to pay the fine would land him in jail for a month. In mitigation, Mupinganjira was remorseful. He claimed he was arrested while on his way to surrender the snake to a traditional healer as it was causing him sleepless nights.

“I did not have a permit from Parks and Wildlife Authority to possess the snake. I also had no authority to move the snake from one place to another,” he said. “I am married with two children. I am self-employed earning $50 per month.”

Mupinganjira was arrested on September 13 aboard a commuter omnibus from Epworth to Mbare. The commuter omnibus was stopped by traffic police at a roadblock at corner Chiremba and Alexandra roads in Hatfield.

The vehicle was searched whereupon Mupinganjira was found with a live Egyptian cobra in his laptop bag. The snake was valued at $100. It was handed over to the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.