Four Nabbed in Zimbabwe for Smuggling 26 Monkeys

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

Authorities in Zimbabwe have intercepted a truck carrying 26 monkeys suspected to have been smuggled from the Democratic Republic of Congo and headed for South Africa.

Four men have been arrested for transporting the animals without requisite permits.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo told ZTN that the suspects have since appeared in court, while the animals will be repatriated to the DRC.

“This week our officers intercepted a truck with about 26 monkeys at Chirundu Border Post,” said Farawo.

“We managed to confiscate the monkeys. They are in our care and we are feeding them with our various partners. The monkeys will soon be repatriated back to the DRC,” he added.

The four men who were arrested were two Congolese, one Zambian and a
Malawian.

“The suspects appeared in court at Karoi Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and were remanded in custody to the 24 th of September,” Farawo said.
Meanwhile, the cause of death of 22 elephants at Hwange National Park in south-western Zimbabwe, is yet to be established two weeks after the jumbos were found dead.

Authorities suspect bacterial infection and have since burnt the carcasses to avoid spread of disease to humans and livestock. Mr Farawo said, “We are still waiting for the results from the lab.

We have taken samples of the elephants that died and we are just waiting for the veterinary doctors to give us the feedback.”