Zimbabwe: Ranger Shot Dead

The Herald (Harare)
Published by the government of Zimbabwe

27 December 2007

Harare

A National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority game ranger was shot dead in the Victoria Falls National Park by fellow rangers who mistook him for a poacher.

The incident occurred last week in Matetsi on the banks of Zambezi River.

Police in Victoria Falls confirmed the shooting saying investigations were still under way.

However, a source with the parks authority said the shooting was as a result of failure by the deploying ranger to notify the game rangers that another troop was within the same area on patrol.

The source said the ranger who was shot had been deployed earlier with his troop and had been left to guard a campsite and prepare food for his colleagues who had gone on patrol.

"The ranger was left to look after the camp and prepare food while his troop went for patrol," said the source who asked not to be named.

He said after being left alone, the ranger took off his uniform and went to fetch water from the Zambezi River with the parks authority issued AK rifle on his shoulder.

The source said the second troop of rangers arrived at the scene at around that time and were not expecting to see anyone walking with a rifle other than poachers.

When they spotted him, they thought he was a poacher since he was not in uniform.

"As he fetched water, the rangers from the other troop opened fire on him.

"He was hit several times before falling into the river. They approached his floating body only to identify him as one of them," he said.

His body was taken to Victoria Falls Hospital Mortuary and two rangers are assisting police with investigations. No comment could immediately be obtained from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.