Kasungu Buffalo Poachers Jailed
One of the convicted poachers
The Department of Parks and Wildlife has expressed satisfaction with the conviction and sentencing of two poachers in Kasungu who have earned themselves seven years and three months each for poaching a buffalo in the protected area.
Kasungu First Grade Magistrate Damiano Banda on Friday sentenced Gibson Chatambalala and Yobe Bwangala Phiri of Kwenje Village in the area of Chief Chulu in Kasungu to jail terms for killing a buffalo in the Kasungu National Park.
The two were arrested in October last year after killing a buffalo which was translocated from Liwonde National Park recently.
State Prosecutor Mutheto Dhamini told the court that the buffalo was valued at K14 million.
Reacting to the sentence, Parks and Wildlife Division Manager for the Centre, Leonard Moyo is optimistic that the sentence has sent a warning signal as one of the two convicts is a habitual poacher.
He says Kasungu National Park has stepped up law enforcement saying the honey moon is over for poachers.
The department of parks and wildlife recently translocated over 600 animal species to Kasungu from Liwonde to boost tourism activities.
Last modified on Wednesday, 15/03/2023
