A Zimbabwean national, 42 year old Elliot Dojzwa appeared before Maun Magistrate Phandiwe Taka on Monday to answer for unlawful possession of an elephant tusk. According to Gweta Police Station Commander Superintendent Nelson Museke, the suspect was apprehended by Gweta police acting on a tip off on the 1st June during their routine stop, question and search patrols in the village. He said the suspect told them then that he came across the elephant tusk while collecting firewood on the outskirts of Gweta. He is said to have claimed innocence and told police he was not aware it was illegal to keep a government trophy.
Museke stated that his policing area has been overwhelmed with similar cases whereby people, some of who are believed to be poachers have been caught red handed with trophies which they always fail to account for. This year alone, he said there had been three similar cases in which Batswana had conspired with foreigners to commit the crimes.Dojzwa is currently remanded at Maun prison pending investigations and is scheduled to appear in court for mention on the 21 July.
