Man caught with snakes, lizard

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A Harare man was on Friday jailed for nine years by a Harare magistrate after he was found in possession of three snakes and a lizard, which he was keeping at his home.

A Harare man was on Friday jailed for nine years by a Harare magistrate after he was found in possession of three snakes and a lizard, which he was keeping at his home.

Blessed Morris who appeared before magistrate Barbara Mateko was being charged with contravening a section of the Parks and Wildlife management Act that prohibits the possession of specially protected animals without a permit.

The reptiles were taken to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority for safe keeping. However, in mitigation Morris pleaded with the court to release him saying the snakes were already at his home and he wanted to go and feed them.

He said he was given the snakes by his late father and he was using them as luck charms.

Prosecutors said Morris was stopped by police officers who were doing a stop and search operation in Mbare on July 28 at around 6am. He was found carrying a

Mozambican spitting cobra, two olive grass snakes and a yellow throated lizard in a handbag.

DESMOND CHINGARANDE