By NORMA SIAME –

A HIGH Court in Kasama has sentenced two people to five years in prison for being in possession of elephant tusks prescribed as Government trophy by law.

Another convict was slapped with a five-year sentence for being in possession of eight Black Lechwe carcasses weighing 227 kilogrammes without certificate of ownership.

The three, Charles Kangwa, Fumbani Kaira and Cosmas Mwila all of Mpika District appeared before judge Isaac Chali for confirmation of their sentences after being tried and convicted by a magistrate’s court.

In Kangwa and Kaira’s case, between June 22 and 24, 2013 in Mpkia District, the two while jointly acting together with other persons unknown had in possession two pieces of ivory ecah weighing 2.3 kilogrammes without a certificate of ownership.

They had attempted to sell the ivory when they were arrested by Zambia Wildlife Authority officers.

Mwila was arrested on May 3, 2013 by ZAWA officers who found him in possession of eight carcasses of Black Lechwe.

“I have perused the record of the case from the court below and the law upon which the convict was convicted and sentenced. In the circumstances of this case, particularly taking into account the very large quantity of the trophy involved which the trial magistrate took into account; I find that the sentence imposed was appropriate,” Mr Justice Chali said.

The sentences were in response to the escalating activities of wildlife criminals that threaten the survival of the African wildlife.