2 farmers jailed for illegal possession of Ivory and leopard skins

THE Itezhi Tezhi Magistrates Court has convicted and sentenced 2 Itezhi Tezhi farmers to 5 years in prison with hard labour for illegal possession of Ivory and two leopard skins. Magistrate Keggan Litia convicted Boyd Mutenda, 26, of Kakumbi village and Dexter Kopolo, 40, of Shakolosha village, both of Chief Kaingu’s Chiefdom in Itezhi Tezhi District in Central Province. The duo were arrested on 31st August , 2020 and charged with unlawful possession of prescribed trophy contrary to section 130(1) (2) (a) of the Wildlife Act number 14 of 2015 of the laws of Zambia. Particulars of the offense were that the duo on 31st August 2020, in Itezhi Tezhi jointly and whilst acting together, had in their possession prescribed trophy namely 1 pair of ivory, without certificate of ownership issued to them by the Director of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife thereof. In the second count, the duo were charged with unlawful possession of a prescribed trophy contrary to Laws of Zambia.Particulars of the offense are that the duo on 31st August 2020, in Itezhi Tezhi jointly and whilst acting together had in their possession prescribed trophy namely two leopard skins, without certificate of ownership issued to them by the Director of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. Facts were that on 31st August 2020, officers from the department of National Parks and Wildlife based in Mumbwa , received information to the effect that there were some people in Kaanzwa area of Itezhi Tezhi district who were in possession of prescribed trophies. Officers travelled to Itezhi Tezhi and called the two suspect on pretext that they were buyers and the process managed to effect an arrest after they failed to produce documentation. The duo were then conveyed to Ngoma Wildlife Headquarters where they were interviewed in relation to the subject offence and confessed to have been in possession of the two prescribed trophies without documents. And Senior Prosecutor Luckson Ngoma said the duo have no justification to possess the prescribed trophy in both counts.Magistrates Litia found the duo guilty and convicted them upon their own confession. In mitigation Boyd Mutenda asked the court to exercise maximum leniency saying that he was married and that his wife was 2 months pregnant. Dexter Kopolo prayed for leniency saying he was new in Itezhi Tezhi and that he was married with 7 children who look up to him for their survival. And passing sentence, Magistrates Litia said that he considered all what they said in mitigation and that they are first offenders who deserve leniency. “The offences you committed are very serious, each carries a prescribed sentence of five years for which I have no authority to alter. I therefore sentence you to five years for count one and another five years for count two with hard labour.” Magistrates Litia said the sentences are subject to high court confirmation and will run concurrently and further informed the duo that if they were not satisfied with the judgment, they had the right to appeal within 30 days. – ZANIS The Sun