Three people have been handed five-year prison sentences each for various wildlife crimes by subordinate courts in Lusaka and Chipata, says the Ministry of Tourism and Arts.

And the Ministry continues to bemoan the active participation of women being used as conduits of wildlife crime around the country.

According to Ministry of Tourism and Arts public relations officer Sakabilo Kalembwe, at least two of the convicted were women found guilty of wildlife crimes.

“The Lusaka subordinate court convicted and sentenced 47-year-old, Scholastica Chisimba, to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful possession of prescribed trophy, namely two leopard skins, contrary to section 130 (2) of the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015. And the Lusaka subordinate court convicted and sentenced another female, Beatrice Lupazula, to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful possession of one lion skin,” Kalembwe disclosed in a press statement released, Monday.

“Elsewhere, the Chipata subordinate court convicted and sentenced Howard Nyirenda to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour on July 27, 2018, for unlawful possession of prescribed trophy, namely two pieces of ivory weighing 6.6kg, contrary to section 130 (2) of the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015.”

Kalembwe added that the Ministry continues to bemoan the active participation of women being used as conduits of wildlife crime around the country.

“Under the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015, unlawful possession of prescribed trophies such as elephant ivory, rhino horn, cheetah, leopard and lion skins carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Hence, we want to urge our people not to find themselves entangled in some of these activities that are illegal. Recently, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Howard Sikwela, did warn our women not to find themselves in a temptation of being used by wildlife criminals. Here is another woman, Beatrice Lupazula, who was jailed and sent to prison, leaving the family; it is not good at all,” said Kalembwe.