Figtree woman rewarded for handing over pangolin

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A  woman from Figtree in Matabeleland South  and her family have been pampered with groceries worth US$ 50 after she handed over a live pangolin that she stumbled on while cutting grass for thatch.

Portia Moyo from Mahenya Village received the surprise donation from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) principal wildlife investigation and security officer Amos Gwema.

Gwem has been going beyond the call of duty to educate communities about wildlife crimes and the importance of conservation in the region.

He said the donation was meant to encourage communities to conserve wildlife.

“I handed over a grocery hamper worth US$50 to Portia Moyo of Mahenya Village after she picked a live pangolin while she was cutting thatching grass,” Gwema said.

“I also handed three T-shirts to the family with a conservation message to appeal to the community against committing wildlife crimes.”

He said Moyo was humbled by the gesture, revealing that the community was displeasured about the distribution of wildlife resources.

“Portia Moyo was very thankful and she encouraged me to continue doing the good work because she said the community is rarely recognised in wildlife conservation,” Gwema said.

“She spoke touchingly saying ‘You are a rare person, who remembers us poor villagers, most funds are used by elites on meetings and on hotels without recognising the poor villagers who reside side by side with these animals”.

Gwema also gave the family some conservation books.

Gwema said the pangolin has been released back to the Hwange National Park.

Meanwhile, three villagers from Macingwane Village in Plumtree were arrested on October 3 after they were caught trying to trade a live pangolin for US$ 5000.

They have since appeared in court  and were remanded in custody to October 19.