Lundazi Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced three farmers of chiefs Mwase and Chikomeni to 5 years imprisonment each with hard labour for unlawful possession of government trophy.
The trio were convicted and sentenced for unlawful possession of government trophy contrary to the ZAWA Act number 12 of 1998.
ZANIS in Lundazi reports that appearing before Lundazi Magistrate Milton Nyirenda were Mabvuto Nyirenda aged 42 and Mighty Moyo aged 30, both of Paulosi village in Chief Mwase and Yoswa Banda aged 31 of Kabanila village in Chief Chikomeni’s area in Lundazi district.
Particulars of the offence were that Nyirenda, Moyo and Banda, on 30th November 2014 in Lundazi district, whilst acting together, unlawfully had in their possession of prescribed trophy, namely two leopard skins without a certificate of ownership from ZAWA.
And in mitigations, the trio appealed to court to exercise maximum leniency as they had already served one year since last year November 2014 when they were arrested by ZAWA.
They also said that they had children and as bread winners, if sent to prison, their families would suffer.
However, Magistrate Nyirenda said that it was the duty of the court to give stiff punishment to deter would be offenders.
The two leopards’ skins were forfeited to the state.