Ivory earns two men 14, 12 years imprisonment
Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sentenced two men to 14 and 12 years imprisonment, respectively, for illegal possession of two pairs of ivory without a permit.
Nkhotakota Police Station prosecution officer Davie Muloza told the court that on January 24 2019, Master Banda, 47, and Philemon Banda, 23, were offering two pairs of elephant tusks weighing 26.5 kilogrammes (kg) at K35 000 per kg at Lozi Trading Centre in the district.
He said that the two were charged with two counts of illegal possession of specimen of listed species and dealing in government wildlife trophies contrary to section 86 (1) and 91 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act. The duo pleaded guilty.
In mitigation, the two asked for leniency on the basis that they are first offenders and have families to take care of, according to Muloza.
Presiding magistrate Fred Chilowetsa sentenced Master to 14 years on the first count and two years on the second count while Philemon was given 12 years on the first count and 18 months on the second count.
Both convicts come from Kawerenga Village, Traditional Authority Mphonde in Nkhotakota. n
