THE Mumbwa magistrates court has sentenced five out of 13 poachers that were arrested last month to two years imprisonment with hard labour.

The poachers were found guilty of killing 55 protected Kafue Lechwes worth K42 million.

Those convicted are John Chitambala, 22, of Khozi Village, Kalahani Moonga, 22, of Siabasonje Village, Andrew Nyirenda, 20, of Chivumo Village, Collins Munyutwa, 20, and Francis Mbungu (19) both of Munyutwa Village in chief Shakumbila's area.

All the 13 who appeared before Magistrate Christopher Matipa were facing three counts of unlawfully being in possession of protected trophy, firearm and unlawfully hunting in a protected game management area.

In the first count, the 13 accused persons stood charged of unlawful possession of protected trophy.

The particulars of the offence are that on August 18, 2010, the 13 people were found with 1,068 kilograms of protected Kafue Lechwe meat worth more than K41.8 million. They were found in possession of the meat without authority.

In the second count, all the 13 persons were charged with unlawful possession of a fire arm.

Particulars of the offence are that the accused persons were on the same day, while acting together, found with a firearm namely short gun greener, serial number 57493, without a firearm licence.

In the last count, the accused were facing an offence of unlawful hunting in the game management area namely the Blue Lagoon National Park number 18.

Particulars of the offence are that on the same date, the accused persons unlawfully hunted 55 Kafue Lechwes in Blue Lagoon National Park without a hunting licence.

The five that were convicted pleaded guilty to the charge while the remaining eight, who are all jointly charged, pleaded not guilty.

In reading the facts for the five who pleaded guilty, Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Public Prosecutor Medison Mtonga said the five were arrested after the authority got a tip off from members of the public.

Mr Mtonga explained that ZAWA officers then rushed to the scene where they found suspects with enormous amounts of suspected fresh game meat on the boat.

He said the convicts were also found with some dried game meat.

In mitigation, the convicts asked the court to exercise maximum lenience on them because they were all looking after families.

However, Magistrate Matipa said the offences committed were serious adding that it was the duty of the court to protect both human and wildlife.

For the first count, magistrate Matipa sentenced all the five convicts to two years imprisonment with hard labour and fined them K1million each or one year imprisonment with hard labour in default.

In the third count, they were fined K1.5 million or one year imprisonment with hard labour in default.

The sentences will run concurrently.

The other eight suspected poachers, who denied the charges, were released on bail in the sum of K2 million cash with working sureties.

They were ordered to appear at ZAWA offices in Mumbwa every two weeks before trial commences on September 16, 2010.

Zanis