Zimparks ranger survives 10 shoot-outs with poachers
Rutendo Nyeve
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers’ dedication, courage and unwavering commitment to protecting wildlife and natural habitats have been given little attention.
Their job is, however, nothing short of extraordinary where the exchange of gunfire is commonplace. It is risky and life-threatening with hair-raising incidents of them coming in the cross-hairs of seriously armed poachers bent on depleting the country’s fauna for the precious ivory and indeed the meat.
The marauding poachers are, however, stopped in their tracks by the bravery of rangers such as Senior Ranger (SR) Benjamin Never (pictured) whose 10 armed contacts with poachers saw six of them dying, 29 pairs of ivory recovered together with three guns and 202 rounds of ammunition.
SR Never who is currently stationed at Zavaru Station in the Zambezi Valley was on Wednesday awarded for demonstrating his gallantry in the face of danger at the belated World Ranger Day commemorations held at Silozwi Primary School in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province.
Presenting the award, Zimparks Director- General Dr Fulton Mangwanya said SR Never demonstrated exceptional courage while carrying out his anti-poaching operations from 2005 to date.
“In 2005 while based at Umfurudzi Safari Area, he was involved in an armed contact and one poacher was killed. In 2007, while based at Mkanga Field Station, he was involved in a successful armed contact and managed to recover eight pairs of ivory and 195 AK-47 rounds of ammunition.
“In 2014, SR Never probably demonstrated the highest cases of bravery getting involved in three armed contacts where one poacher died with several pairs of ivory being recovered.
“In 2014 while based at Marongora, SR Never was involved in a successful armed contact that saw the death of one poacher. Seven pairs of ivory were recovered. In the same year, while patrolling in Sapi Safari Area, he got involved in an armed contact and recovered two pairs of ivory,” he said
Dr Mangwanya said in that same year in Kapirinhengu, the legendary was involved in armed contact with seven poachers and managed to recover one 375 rifle and a pair of ivory while on August 11, 2015, in Mana Pools, in the Zambezi Valley landscape, he was involved in an armed contact and managed to recover four pairs of ivory.
Early in 2016, while in Mana Pools, SR Never was involved in yet another armed contact where one poacher was shot dead and managed to recover a pair of ivory. During the same year, he moved to Marongora where in June while on patrol he was involved in an armed contact and another poacher was killed. He managed to recover one 375 rifle with seven rounds and a pair of ivory.
In 2017, while in Mana Pools, SR Never got involved in an armed contact where one poacher was killed and he managed to recover one 375 rifle and three pairs of ivory.
Not to be outdone was SR Duncan Muzamba who was awarded under the category of outstanding service awards with more than seven armed contacts where five poachers were arrested, six left wounded with seven rifles, 81 rounds of ammunition and nine pairs of ivory recovered.
“SR Duncan Muzamba has a lot of successful armed contacts both at Chizariza National Park and Katombora Field Station. He also led the recoveries of rifles and ammunition. In 2005, he wounded and apprehended a poacher and recovered a 303 rifle in Chizarira. In 2006, he wounded and apprehended two poachers and recovered two pairs of ivory tusks in Chizarira.
“In 2008, while still in Chizarira, he had a total of six contacts with armed poachers and he arrested five and wounded one. He recovered two 303 rifles and two AK-47 rifles plus 81 rounds of ammunition. In 2009, SR Muzamba wounded and arrested one poacher and recovered a pair of ivory tusks,” said Dr Mangwanya.
He said in 2010 he continued to demonstrate bravery by raiding and recovering two rifles (303) and six pairs of ivory. In 2011, he wounded one poacher and recovered a 303 rifle while last year he was involved in a contact where one poacher was shot dead in Katombora leading to the recovery of five machetes, two dugout canoes, an axe, gun oil, among other things.
In 2023, he was also involved in contact with armed poachers in Katombora where one poacher was wounded and they recovered two canoes and an axe, among other things.
The awarded rangers got prize money and certificates for their courage and outstanding execution of duty.
The Sunday News
