Two lactating mother’s in Kasempa district of the Northwestern province have been sentenced to 12 months simple imprisonment for unlawful possession of game meat.
This is in a matter where Astridah Kibelo aged 37 and Memory Musaswe aged 34 are jointly charged with the offense of being in possession of meat of a wild animal without an ownership certificate.
Particulars of the offense are that on June 14, 2024, the duo were found by wildlife police officers in possession of 25 pieces of puku meat and 5 pieces of warthog meat without a certificate given to them by the director of National parks and wildlife along Kasempa-Kaoma road.
When the matter came up for plea before Magistrate Evans Yikona the duo said that they understood the charge leveled against them and pleaded guilty.
On their own admission Magistrate Yikona found the accused persons guilty of the offense of being in possession of meat of a wild animal without an ownership certificate.
In mitigation Ms. Kibelo asked the court to exercise maximum leniency as she ventured into selling illegal game meat to support her children who had been abandoned by their father.
“I am begging this honorable court to exercise maximum leniency as I am a mother of a small baby, I promise not to repeat this action again,” she pleaded.
In passing his judgement Magistrate Yikona took into consideration that the duo were first time offenders who deserved the court’s maximum leniency.
“I also bear in mind your mitigating factors that you are looking after many children including the ones you carrying on your backs, however this offense is common in Kasempa and it is my duty as court to punish offenders,” he added.
Magistrate Yikona sentenced Kibelo and Musaswe to 12 months simple imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
“In default 12 months simple imprisonment which I suspended for 12 months on account of those babies you are carrying on your backs,” he said.
Magistrate Yikona urged the duo to refrain from engaging in illegal businesses as they were subjecting their babies to unnecessary suffering.
