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Yeukai Karengezeka–Court Correspondent 

TWO lodge attendants at Kyle Recreational Park in Masvingo have each been fined US$100 for possession of five lion skulls which they intended to sell. 

Shelton Chibaya (36) and Benedict Mutinhima (31) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo charged with contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act. 

They pleaded guilty. 

The complainant is the State represented by Detective Sergeant Dhururu of CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit, Harare. 

Prosecuting, Mrs Mandirasa Chigumira proved that between February 1 and 16 this year, the two picked up the five lion skulls in a bushy area near Liveson Wild Farm, Masvingo to sell them. 

On February 16, Chibaya connived with Patson Ndlovu, who is already on remand, and took the skulls from Masvingo to Harare where they intended to sell them. Upon arrival, they took the skulls to Mazowe Mansion flats, at corner of Mazowe Street and Herbert Ushowokunze Avenue, for safekeeping while looking for buyers. 

The court heard that on the following day at around 9am, detectives from CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit received information that the accused persons were in possession of lion skulls.

The five lion skulls. 

Detectives disguised as buyers and lured Chibaya and Ndlovu to bring out the lion skulls after promising to pay US$1 500 for each head. 

After agreeing on the price, Ndlovu then led the detectives to the flats, where upon entering the premises, they were joined by Chibaya and one identified as Chaka who is still at large. 

They went to a car belonging to Chaka and took the five skulls out of a purple and blue travelling bag placed on the rear passenger seat of the car. 

Ndlovu carried the bag with the skulls and walked with the detectives posing as buyers towards the detectives’ vehicle. 

Ndlovu and the detectives entered their vehicle while Chibaya and Chaka remained outside. 

This is when the detectives revealed their identities and arrested them. 

The recovered lion skulls were assessed by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and are valued at US$100 000.