A top ZANU PF farmer for the Gwayi Conservancy, Honest Trymore Ndlovu together with a professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst are in hot soup for killing one of the oldest and popular lions at Hwange National Park.
The two are to appear in court tomorrow for killing the lion in exchange for over $50,000 paid by a US tourist who is a dentist.
The Professional Hunter’s Licence (licence number 553) has since been revoked while the lion trophy has also been confiscated.
Bronkhorst, who is registered with Bushman Safaris, is facing criminal charges for allegedly killing the collared lion at Antoinette farm in Gwayi Conservancy in Hwange district on July 1, 2015.
The case is being handled by Victoria Falls Police Station under case number CR 27/07/2015.
Cecil was shot at night, after being blinded with a spotlight, over a bait.
‘Cecil’ was well known and regularly sighted by tourists in the main camp area of Hwange National Park.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director general Mr Edison Chidziya and Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Emmanuel Fundira said ongoing investigations to date suggested that the killing of the lion was illegal since the land owner had not been allocated a lion on his hunting quota for 2015.
“Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management as the Regulatory Authority and custodian of all wild animals in Zimbabwe issues permits and hunting quota for all hunting areas in Zimbabwe so that only animals on quota are to be hunted.
“In this case, both the professional hunter and the land owner had no permit or quota to justify the offtake of the lion and therefore are liable for the illegal hunt,” read their statement.
Sources told ZimEye.com the Bronkhurst intended to do a “quota transfer” where Cecil would have been recorded as shot in another area which had a quota and permit. But Cecil’s satellite detectable collar exposed him ( although Bronkhurst apparently tried to destroy the collar and all evidence of the dead Cecil).
“Had Cecil not been collared, Bronkhurst probably would have got away with this crime, and I very much doubt this is the first dodgy episode in his hunting career.
“Lets hope that corruption does not prevail and the full force of the law falls on both these characters.
The trial is to commence soon at Hwange Magistrates court.