Zimbabwean Man Arrested For Having Snake In His Possession Demanded The Court To Returns It To Him
A Zimbabwean man who was arrested over the weekend for being in possession of a live snake reportedly told a Harare magistrate on Tuesday, 15th September, 2015, that he had inherited the creature from his mother and said he wanted it back.
On 13th September, 2015, police in Zimbabwe got a little more than they bargained for at a roadblock, when they opened a laptop bag and found a deadly and very much alive black mamba.
It was later revealed that the snake was in fact an Egyptian cobra.
Mpinganjira was immediately arrested and the snake handed over to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority.
According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, Mpinganjira, who appeared before a magistrate on Tuesday, claimed ownership of the snake, saying he had inherited it from his mother and therefore it did not belong to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority.
“It is true that I was found in possession of the snake but I do not understand why it was taken away from me. I inherited it from my mother.
“My mother got the snake from Malawi, but now I do not have evidence to prove that because she is no longer alive,” Mpinganjira was quoted as saying.
Mpinganjira was accused of contravening section 59 (2) (b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20,14 which prohibits removing any animal or any part part of any animal from any land without a permit.
The magistrate described the matter as “a bizarre incident” and suggested that Mpinganjira be examined by mental health practitioners.
Mpinganjira insisted that he did not suffer from any mental disorder.
On 13th September, 2015, police in Zimbabwe got a little more than they bargained for at a roadblock, when they opened a laptop bag and found a deadly and very much alive black mamba.
It was later revealed that the snake was in fact an Egyptian cobra.
Mpinganjira was immediately arrested and the snake handed over to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority.
According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, Mpinganjira, who appeared before a magistrate on Tuesday, claimed ownership of the snake, saying he had inherited it from his mother and therefore it did not belong to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority.
“It is true that I was found in possession of the snake but I do not understand why it was taken away from me. I inherited it from my mother.
“My mother got the snake from Malawi, but now I do not have evidence to prove that because she is no longer alive,” Mpinganjira was quoted as saying.
Mpinganjira was accused of contravening section 59 (2) (b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20,14 which prohibits removing any animal or any part part of any animal from any land without a permit.
The magistrate described the matter as “a bizarre incident” and suggested that Mpinganjira be examined by mental health practitioners.
Mpinganjira insisted that he did not suffer from any mental disorder.