Five people have been convicted to five years imprisonment each for various wildlife-related offenses in the Chipata, Mambwe and Petauke Magistrate Courts in separate incidences.

Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer Sakabilo Kalembwe disclosed in a statement that the Chipata Magistrates’ Court convicted Joseph Nkhoma, 54, to five years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a prescribed trophy.

Kalembwe further explained that the Petauke Magistrates’ Court convicted and sentenced a 55-year old man to five years imprisonment with hard labour for illegal possession of one skin of a pangolin, which is contrary to the Zambia Wildlife Act.

“In Chipata, the Magistrates’ Court has convicted and sentenced Joseph Nkhoma aged 54 to five years imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a prescribed trophy, namely four cut pieces of ivory weighing 9kg, contrary to section 130 (2) ZWA No.14 of 2015. In Mambwe, the Magistrates’ Court has convicted and sentenced three men to five years imprisonment with hard labour each for unlawful possession of a prescribed trophy, namely one pair of ivory weighing 10.5kg, contrary to section 130 (1) ZWA No.14 of 2015. Emerson Banda aged 38 was convicted first, following his plea of guilty while his co-accused, Sanford Muhande (28) and Gideon Chulu (30) pleaded not guilty but was later convicted due to overwhelming evidence against them. The trio was nabbed in Mfuwe,” Kalembwe stated.

“In another case, the Petauke Magistrates’ Court has convicted and sentenced a 55-year old man to five years imprisonment with hard labour for illegal possession of a trophy of a protected animal, namely one skin of a pangolin, contrary to section 130 (1) of the Zambia Wildlife Act No.14 of 2015. Zakeyo Zulu was apprehended in Petauke District by officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), who found him with the skin and scales of the protected animal.”

Meanwhile, Kalembwe revealed that the ministry also received a report of a man of Chishala village in chief Mukungule’s area of Mpika District was killed by an elephant as he chased the ‘jumbos’ from his field in the night.

“On a sad note, a man of Chishala village in chief Mukungule’s area of Mpika was killed by an elephant. The accident involved Robert Mulenga aged 28 years and happened at night while he was trying to chase the elephants from his field. The department would like to urge members of the public that wild animals can be wild and therefore should by all means avoid close contact,” stated Kalembwe.