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THREE MEN IN COURT FOR UNLAWFUL ENTRY INTO MWERU WANTIPA NATIONAL PARK

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THE Magistrate Court in Kaputa district in Northern province has fined three men K160,000 each or in default face nine months’ imprisonment with hard labor for unlawful entry into a National Park.

Before Magistrate Emmanuel Mukoma were Davis Mulenga, 50, of Kashikishi Kankafi Village, Davy Chongo, 54 of Kasongole Village, and Stephen Mwansa 38 of Puta Village who were charged with unlawful entry into the National Park.

This is contrary to section 18, sub section one as read together with section 136 A and B of the Wildlife Act number 14 of 2015.

ZANIS reports that this is in a matter that came up for plea in which the three pleaded guilty to the charge.

Facts in the matter were that the three whilst acting together did enter Mweru Wantipa National Park without a permit from the Director at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

The court heard that a combined team of officers from the Fisheries Department, Police, Zambia National Service and Department of National Parks and Wildlife intercepted a boat on Lake Mweru Wantipa containing five men.

Two of the five men dived into the water on the lake and managed to swim and escape while the three were apprehended and arrested on December 23, 2024 and taken into custody.

The men were arrested upon their failure to produce a permit allowing them entry into the park and also for attempting to fish during the fishing ban.

The officers also recovered a boat, two paddling sticks, a bag of mealie-meal, two pots and fishing nets.

Magistrate Mukoma further ordered them to pay a fine of K160,000 each and in default face nine months’ imprisonment with hard labor effective the date of arrest.

Lake Mweru Wantipa is a protected area that is located in Mweru Wantipa National Park.