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Mambwe Magistrate Court in Eastern Province has convicted and sentenced three men in Chipata for illegal possession of elephant ivory, Zebra skin, Genet skin and a firearm.
Acting on a tip off from the public, Department of National Park and Wildlife officers apprehended a 35-year-old man in Mukhanya area, Mambwe district.
On July 6, 2023, James Mwanza, a local farmer was found in possession of two ivory pieces weighing 12kg.
He was charged with one count of illegal possession of a prescribed trophy contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Judge Moses Phiri sitting at Mambwe Magistrate Court sentenced James to five years imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty.
In a similar case, officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife arrested Elias Phiri, aged 30, on July 6, 2023 in Mambwe district.
Elias was caught with an illegal firearm, Zebra Skin and upon his arrest, he was charged with two counts of illegal possession of a firearm and protected animal contrary to the laws of Zambia.
The facts of the matter are that, once he appeared before the court, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months and five years imprisonment respectfully.
In another case, one man had been sentenced to five years imprisonment for illegal possession of Genet skin.
Read More: Mpika: Two get 5-year jail term for illicit trade in bush meat
After receiving a tip off from concerned members of the public, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife officers apprehended Panias Banda, 46, on August 4, 2023, in Mambwe district.
Panias was found with one Genet skin contrary to the laws of Zambia.
When he appeared before the Mambwe Magistrate Court, Panias pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour.
Meanwhile, Chisamba Magistrate Court in Central Province has sentenced two Zambian men to five years imprisonment for the illegal possession of protected animals.
On May 20, 2023, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) officers apprehended Raymond Mayoshi (39), and Titus Malila (35) at Katuba in Central Province.
According to a statement issued by the Department in Lusaka on Tuesday, the two were found with two live Meyer Parrots and charged with the illegal possession of protected animals, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Following their arrest, the two men could not be granted bond by DNPW on account of failure to provide two working sureties as required by law.
A surety is a person or an organisation that assumes the responsibility of paying the debt in case the debtor policy defaults or is unable to make payments.
Mayoshi and Malila appeared before Judge Susan Magalashi at the Chisamba Magistrate Court and pled not guilty to the charge.
The duo then applied for bail but failed to meet the conditions required by the court and were remanded in custody.
Four witnesses testified for the prosecution and the accused persons did not call any witnesses and Magalashi convicted and sentenced the two men to five years imprisonment with hard labour.
The Meyer Parrot, also known as the ‘brown parrot’, was commonly found in the South Luangwa National Park.
The national park was a key attraction in the tourism sector, which is an important contributor to Zambia’s economic development.
The Department had noted the need to safeguard animals such as the Meyer Parrot, which was considered a ‘protected animal’ under the Wildlife Act, as it was prone to the pet trade across Africa.
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