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Admore Mbonda in Kariba
TWO Zambian nationals have been jailed for an effective three years each for poaching after they illegally entered Zimbabwe to hunt without permits.
Richard Malambo (65) and Alfred Siampande (44), both of Sakatombo Village under Chief Gwembe in Zambia, were convicted on their own plea when they appeared before Kariba magistrate Mr Toindepi Zhou.
The duo was facing charges of illegal entry into Zimbabwe, poaching and possession of a firearm without a permit.
Mr Zhou slapped the duo with an eight-month jail term for entering the country through an unofficial entry point, while on the illegal fishing charge, he sentenced the duo to 24 months each in jail.
For possessing the unlicensed firearm, Malambo and Siampande were sentenced to 12 months behind bars.
The two will, however, serve an effective 36 months in prison pending deportation to their country upon completion of the sentence.
In mitigation, Malambo and Siampande told the court that they were not well-versed with Zimbabwe’s laws, leading to the commission of the offence out of ignorance.
“Your Worship, we are sorry we didn’t know that we were committing an offence by poaching,” they pleaded.
In sentencing the duo, Mr Zhou said the two knew what they were looking for in Zimbabwe.
“The fact that you had a firearm shows that you wanted to poach or kill some elephants and the bush pig (warthog) that you had killed was meant for relish,” he said.
Mr Zhou said on reviewing the evidence presented in court, a custodial sentence was necessary.
Prosecutor Mr Philip Urayai told the court that on June 29 this year at Chunga Camp, Matusadona, operatives from Conservancy Camp were on patrol in that area when they heard gunshots.
The operatives informed their command and a team was assembled comprising members from Bumi Hills Anti-Poaching Unit, Africa Conservancy and Zimbabwe National Army to react to the information.
The team searched the area and came into contact with the suspects who were about five and fired warning shots before the poachers fled while the team gave chase, leading to the arrest Malambo and Siampande.
Three other suspected poachers escaped.
The reaction team searched the suspects and found an unregistered 375 rifle with a round in the chamber, while a fleshly-skinned warthog valued at $1 000 was also recovered.
Online Reporter