Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), working with the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Criminal Investigations Department – Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit (CID MFFU), arrested three suspected poachers following a coordinated operation in the Kyle Recreational Park area on 5 November 2025.
The arrests were confirmed to The Herald by acting ZimParks public relations manager Tamirirashe Mudzingwa, who said the operation was launched after authorities received a tip-off about illegal hunting activities in the park. He said:
“Acting on a tip-off, a ZimParks reaction team was swiftly deployed to the Popoteke area, where they intercepted three poachers who were exiting the park with hunting dogs.
“One suspect was apprehended on the spot while four dogs were neutralised during the confrontation.”
The other two suspects initially fled the scene but were later caught in the Sanangwe area during a joint follow-up operation by ZimParks and CID MFFU officers.
Mudzingwa said searches at one of the suspects’ homes uncovered a pangolin trophy, a full zebra carcass, wildebeest and buffalo skins, three spotlights, two axes, and a knife believed to have been used in poaching.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were habitual poachers linked to several illegal hunting incidents that have caused serious ecological damage in the Pioneer, Nhoro Bay, and Popoteke areas within Kyle Recreational Park.
The trio is currently in custody at ZRP CID MFFU Masvingo, and investigations are ongoing.
