18 Years In Zimbabwe, 20 In South Africa: Chinese Nationals Sentenced For Crimes
A Chinese national has been handed an 18-year jail term in Zimbabwe for illegal dealings in rhino horn and ivory, while seven other Chinese nationals have each been sentenced to 20 years in South Africa for human trafficking and kidnapping. The two separate rulings, delivered just days apart, highlight intensified crackdowns on organised crime across southern Africa.
Crackdown in Zimbabwe
On Thursday, 11 September 2025, a Harare magistrate convicted Cong Yanzhong, 57, on two counts of unlawfully dealing in wildlife products.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Cong was arrested in July after detectives received a tip-off and closely monitored his movements.
“Detectives acting on a tip-off trailed Cong on July 16. They intercepted him carrying a black satchel and a brown bag, which were found to contain three shrink-wrapped rhino horns,” the NPA said.
Cong failed to produce any permits or licences for the wildlife products. Authorities later searched his Harare home, where they found 36kg of raw ivory worth just over US$6,000 (R110,000). The seized rhino horn weighed 7.7kg, valued at US$240,000 (R4.4 million).
The magistrate imposed an 18-year effective custodial sentence, one of the heaviest penalties seen in recent years for such crimes.
The NPA hailed the ruling, saying it reflected Zimbabwe’s determination to protect its endangered wildlife.
“The sentencing sends a strong message that Zimbabwe has zero tolerance for wildlife crime. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our precious natural heritage and ensure that those who seek to profit from the destruction of our wildlife face the full force of the law,” the authority said in a statement.
Zimbabwe is home to some of the world’s largest populations of black rhinos and elephants. However, poaching syndicates, often operating with international networks, continue to threaten conservation efforts. Officials say Cong’s case demonstrates how traffickers attempt to exploit regional loopholes to supply illegal markets in Asia, where ivory and rhino horn remain in high demand.
Sentences in South Africa
Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, seven Chinese nationals were sentenced on Tuesday, 10 September 2025, to 20 years each following their conviction earlier this year on human trafficking and kidnapping charges.
The BBC reported that the group – Kevin Tsao, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian – were convicted on 158 out of 160 counts. These included trafficking people, aiding illegal immigration, and violating South Africa’s labour laws.
The case dates back to a 2019 raid, when authorities stormed a factory in Johannesburg called Beautiful City. Inside, they discovered 91 Malawian nationals, among them 37 children, living and working in appalling conditions.
Prosecuting authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane welcomed the tough sentences, stating:
“Human trafficking has become a scourge in our country. We have become a destination for human trafficking due to various reasons, including our porous borders.”
Victims testified that they were forced to work 11-hour shifts, seven days a week. They were denied basic rights such as rest periods and the freedom to leave the premises.
One worker told the court: “We were not even allowed to leave the factory to buy food. The food we were given was dirty and not fit for humans.”
Authorities revealed that the victims were smuggled into South Africa in shipping containers. The factory produced inner cottons for blankets using recycled material.
The labour department, which participated in the 2019 raid, said the case underscored the urgent need for closer cooperation between government agencies to prevent similar abuses.
Regional challenges
The back-to-back sentences in Zimbabwe and South Africa demonstrate a wider regional push against organised criminal syndicates involved in wildlife trafficking and human exploitation.
In Zimbabwe, the NPA stressed that Cong’s punishment should deter those seeking to profit from wildlife destruction. In South Africa, the prosecuting authority and the labour department pledged to intensify efforts to root out human trafficking networks.
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The post Chinese National Jailed 18 Years In Zimbabwe As 7 Others Get 20 Years In South Africa appeared first on iHarare News.
