2 Magistrates apprehended in connection with killing of white rhino in Livingstione

A Joint operation team of officers from the Department of National Parks & Wildlife (DNPW) and Zambia Police Service in Livingstone has apprehended five people in connection with the killing of one white rhino while another was left for dead in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park last week.

Among the people arrested are two local court magistrates, a contractor, a businessman and estate agent while the hones were recovered from the suspects during the operation. Senior Area warden Lewis Daka confirmed the development to the media during a press briefing held at his office in Livingstone yesterday. Mr. Daka has identified the two Magistrates from Mukuni and Zimba as Active Tambo aged 46 of house number 35/36 Likute Way and Elvis Maya Sikachoma 44 of house number DNA 141 Dambwa North, respectively and both of Livingstone. Others apprehended are David Mununga, 66, an Estate Agent of plot number 76 Morlight, Sydney Mulenga, 31 a contractor of Dambwa Site and Service and Mwala Mwendanei , 39 a businessman of plot number 23 Botswana road all of Livingstone. He disclosed that the five suspects were apprehended while transacting the business at the Livingstone Museum Car Park around 16:00 hours on Wednesday. “I can confirm that yesterday (Wednesday) through a joint operation with Zambia Police, we managed to apprehend five suspects found with a pair of rhino hones but I cannot give details because the investigation is still going on,” he said. “We are not going to relent and at the time of the arrest, the suspects had arranged to transact with the buyer at the museum,” he said. Mr. Daka further disclosed that the rhino which was killed was the dominant male called Lewis while female left for dead was called Sepo. He reiterated that suspicions that Mr Hichilema, as negotiator during the privatization of companies had favored investors in his dealings should be thoroughly investigated as well.