A MANAGER with Big Five Concession, who is standing as a witness in court, had his testimony against a safari operator trashed in court, with the defence counsel accusing the manager of singing for his supper.
Suscaden Investments managing director Terrence Kelly is accused of removing baits, cameras and snares used by a Big Five Concession client to hunt a lion.
Testifying before magistrate Ethel Chichera, the witness Richard Chapoto told the court that Kelly was their neighbour who operated his businesses at the periphery of the Zambezi River that falls within their area.
He told court that his company did the paperwork for their client to hunt a lion adding that a team of detectives from Harare visited the camp after other police officers from Guruve police station had visited.
Chapoto told the court that he was surprised by the conduct of Kelly who is always frustrating their clients.
But Kelly's defence led by Everson Chatambudza accused Chapoto of singing for his super saying the testimonies he is giving to the court are tainted.
Chatambudza further accused Chapoto of lying before the court that the area they put snares belonged to his employer.
Kelly had told court that the area was not allowed for hunting.
He had also submitted that in terms of the lease agreement entered into by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Parks Authority) and his company in September 2017, hunting is not permitted in the leased area and the company has to ensure that no hunting takes place.
Kelly further submitted that there had been illegal hunting within the area leased to Suscaden claiming to have reported the illegal hunting to authorities.
He said he recovered the camera sensor as an exhibit and sent it to Parks Authority.
The matter was postponed to June 4 this year.
The State alleged that on September 8, 2017, Kelly's company signed a lease agreement with the Parks Authority for operating safari tourism activities.
It is alleged on August 10, 2023, a professional hunter Clifton Walker submitted a hunting permit to kill a lion and a leopard in the Big five Concession (Chewore North).
On the same date, Walker was assigned a Parks Authority game ranger to guide him in abiding by the permit.
The professional hunter killed a hippopotamus and set baits at strategic points with the guidance of rangers.
Walker reportedly also set up a motion sensor camera to the hanging bait.
It is alleged that on August 15 last year, Kelly unlawfully entered the safari area where Walker had set the bait, chopped down the hanging bait and took the motion sensor camera with its 32 gigabyte memory card.
Walker later made a police report leading to the discovery of the gadgets from Kelly.
Kelly has since denied the charges saying the place where the offence was alleged to have occurred is a no-hunting area and is leased to his company.
