American hunter fined in Hwange

By Ian Nhuka

HWANGE - A Zimbabwean court yesterday fined an American citizen after finding him guilty of attempting to smuggle 300 bullet heads from Victoria Falls to South Africa last Friday.

Leslie Howell, 39 who had been arrested at Victoria Falls International Airport was yesterday fined $10 million (or 45 days in prison) by Hwange resident magistrate Peter Madiba.

Howell, who had travelled to Zimbabwe on a hunting expedition comes from Florida. He was arrested, as he was about to get on a South African Airways flight to Johannesburg.

He first appeared before Madiba on Monday and yesterday on his second appearance pleaded guilty to contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act (failing to declare the bullet heads).
The bullet heads were forfeited to the state.

Appearing for the State, Tapiwa Phatisayi said Howell was arrested last Friday at the Victoria Falls International Airport by police after a tip off that he was in possession of 300 bullet heads, which he had not declared.

The hunter arrived at the Harare International Airport on 21 September and declared the other arms and ammunition he had.
The bullet heads had the following tittles 308 diameter, 100x30 calibre, 100x375 calibre, 375 diameter and 100x207 calibre and 277 diameter.

However, the prosecutor said, he did not declare the 300 bullet heads.

After his arrival in Harare he proceeded to Buffalo Range in Chiredzi for his hunting excursion which ended on 3 October.

He then travelled to the scenic Victoria Falls for a few days and was arrested.

He was represented by Tonderai Mukuku.

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