Two men sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for illicit trade in pangolin

The Chongwe Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced two men to five years imprisonment for illegal possession of a pangolin skin.

Acting on a tip from concerned citizens, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) officers on March 27, 2023 apprehended two men in Chinzete area, Rufunsa district.

Darius Mubanga Makanta (30) and Friday Chintili (33) were found with a pangolin skin close to midnight along the Great East Road.

The two men, who were farmers in the district were charged with one count of illegal possession of a protected trophy.

Upon their matter being brought before the court, both men pleaded not guilty, and their case proceeded to a trial and based on the evidence presented against them during the trial.

Judge Francis Sato at Chongwe Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced Darius Mubanga Makanta and Friday Chintili to five years imprisonment each.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka by the DNPW on Wednesday, the possession, trade and trafficking of pangolins and their body parts is illegal in Zambia.

The Department said this devastating trade poses a severe threat to pangolin populations, leading to their decline and fear of extinction in Africa and Asia, which are their exclusive habitats.

“Pangolins provide ecosystem services such as natural pest control because their diet consists of insects such as ants,” it said.

The Department said these scaly anteaters are protected in Zambia by the Zambia Wildlife Act Number 14 of 2015.

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