Fifteen-year-old boy among two poachers sentenced for illegal possession of game meat

The Chinsali High Court has sentenced two men and a juvenile to five years imprisonment and 12 months’ probation respectively for the illegal possession of buffalo meat and a firearm.

According a statement issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Authority (DNPWA) on Tuesday in Lusaka, Francis Mwansa aged 60, Victor Chilufya aged 37, and Nation Mwelwa aged 15 of Mpika were arrested on November 7, 2022.

Mwansa, together with Chilufya and Mwelwa were jointly charged with the illegal possession of 97kg of buffalo meat and a firearm contrary to the laws of Zambia.

The trio was intercepted around 18:00 at the Mphumba Game Management boundary after they three were spotted leaving the Game Management Area (GMA) by the officers who had mounted a roadblock along the road.

The trio’s case was committed to the high court for trial by the Mpika Magistrate Court because it involved a juvenile and all three pleaded guilty and were convicted by Justice Matthews Zulu sitting at the Chinsali High Court.

Judge Zulu sentenced Francis Mwansa and Victor Chilufya to five years imprisonment, while the juvenile was given 12 months probation.

The two adults were also given six months for each of the two counts, namely illegal possession of a government trophy being 97kg of Buffalo Meat and illegal possession of a firearm and their sentences will run concurrently for the two adult offenders.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife said the Mphumba GMA route is known to be frequented by poachers when accessing the South Luangwa National Park in the Lavushmanda district.

The Department has explained that the illegal bushmeat trade involves the unsustainable hunting and poaching of wild animals for their meat.

It said this unregulated exploitation threatens the survival of many targeted species including antelopes, hippos, and other ungulates.

“The consumption of illegal bushmeat also contributes to the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Handling and consuming bushmeat can expose people to pathogens leading to outbreaks of diseases such as Anthrax,” the Department said.

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