Harare – A Chinese national, Cong Yanzhong has been sentenced to 18 years in jail by a Zimbabwe court for illegal rhinoceros horn and ivory trade.
Cong was convicted and sentenced on two accounts of unlawfully dealing with rhinoceros horns and ivory.
”This sentencing sends a strong message that Zimbabwe has zero tolerance for wildlife crime,” the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said.
”We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our precious natural heritage.”
Cong was arrested on July 16 this year after police detectives received a tip-off that he was involved in illegal wildlife products sale.
The Chinese national was arrested and searched and he was found with three rhinoceros horns weighing 7.7 kilogrammes valued at US$240 000.
Police later searched Cong’s house and found four pieces of raw ivory weighing 36 kgs valued at US$6 146.
Recently 10 Chinese men and women were arrested for illegal use of cocaine at a party in Harare. They were all granted bail.
Thousands of Chinese men and women live in Zimbabwe where they are involved in many businesses that include mining, retail, construction, farming and illicit activities.
Ordinary Zimbabweans have accused the Chinese of being involved in many illegal acts but the Harare government does not arrest them.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently attended an event in Beijing where China was commemorating victory against the Japanese during the World War 2.
Mnangagwa held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Mnangagwa has praises for the Chinese whom he describes as an all weather friend of Zimbabwe.
China helped to arm guerillas during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle of the 1970s against the racist white colonial regime.