FOUR FINED FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY
FOUR fisherman of Itezhi Tezhi have been fined a collective K480, 000 in the magistrates court after they pleaded guilty to unlawful entry in a National park and possession of weapons.
Before Itezhi Tezhi magistrates court were Givers Hamvupula, 27, of Lilanda compound, Davar Chibwala, 25, of Chongo area, Mutukwa Malika, 27 of Chibolya compound and Green Bwalya ,28, of Lilanda compound in Itezhi -Tezhi Town who collectively stood charged with two counts.
In the first count, the quartet were charged with unlawful entry into the National Park, contrary to section 18(1) as read together with section 136 (a) of the Zambia Wildlife Act no. 14 of 2015.
Particulars in count one alleged that the quartet on April 23, 2022, in Itezhi Tezhi, did enter into Kafue national park no.11 without a park entry permit.
In count two, the charge was unlawful possession of weapons in the national park, contrary to section 20 (1) (b) and section 136 (a) of the Zambia Wildlife Act no. 14 of 2015 of laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that the quartet on April 23, in Itezhi Tezhi had in their possession weapons namely one Kapenta fish net, a fibre Boat, a fuel tank , life jackets and an engine boat in the Kafue National Park without permission.
When the matter came up for plea, the quartet pleaded guilty to the offence and Magistrates Mugala Chalwe convicted them upon their own confession.
Facts of the offence were that on the day in question, Zambia Wildlife police officers were on duty on Lake Itezhi- Tezhi which is located in the Kafue National Park when they came across the four suspects at Chipango area.
In mitigation the quartet asked for the court’s maximum leniency as they were first offenders and that they were married with children and that it was family pressures that led them to go on the Lake.
After hearing their mitigations, Magistrates Chalwe said that the court took in consideration all what they said in mitigation and she levied each accused person K 120,000 for the first count or in default four months community service.
In the second two, magistrates Chalwe imposed a K120, 000 fine or in default four months community service.