Marondera man fined US$300 for trafficking lion teeth worth US$20,000

A 37-year-old man from Marondera has been fined US$300 after pleading guilty to illegally trafficking eight lion teeth valued at US$20,000.

Kenias Sekero admitted to contravening Section 59B(2) of the Parks and Wildlife Act after offering three lion canine teeth and five lion incisors for sale in Harare’s Central Business District.

He has been ordered to pay the fine by 25 September, failing which he will serve a six-month jail term.

The court also ordered that the recovered teeth be released into the custody of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).

According to the State, detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit received a tip-off that Sekero was in possession of lion teeth and intended to sell them in Harare’s CBD.

Posing as prospective buyers, the detectives arranged to meet him at Africa Unity Square on 5 September 2026.

At around 11:30 am, Sekero got into the undercover vehicle and produced a wrapped bundle of bench paper containing the eight teeth, demanding US$150 for the three canines and US$130 for the five incisors.

The undercover buyer then signalled a police backup team, who moved in and recovered the teeth. When asked to produce a licence or permit authorising him to possess and sell the wildlife products, Sekero failed to do so and was arrested on the spot.

A ZimParks official, Everisto Simayo, later examined the recovered items and confirmed they were three lion canine teeth and five lion incisors, taken from a lion valued at US$20,000.

Zimbabwe’s wildlife protection laws prohibit the illegal possession and trade of protected animal parts, helping to safeguard the country’s wildlife and biodiversity from exploitation.

More: ZBC News