SOME foreigners are engaged in poaching of wildlife in Muchinga Province and transporting it to their countries through ungazzeted points.

Chinsali Deputy Mayor Shame Kapyanga said yesterday in an interview that poachers were illegally ferrying carcasses of wildlife into some neighbouring countries through ungazetted points.

He said poaching of Kudu, antelope, Zebra and buffaloes among others was more prevalent in Lunda area of Muchinga Province.

"We are concerned with the problem of poaching in the entire province and some foreigners are involved who later smuggle the carcasses to some neighbouring countries. The poaching is also prevalent in Lunda area," he said.

Mr Kapyanga said some poachers were coming from far-flung areas such as Nakonde District to engage in poaching activities in Mpika District and smuggling of carcasses to neighbouring countries.

He urged the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to combat poaching in the province.

"We are working with ZAWA to address the problem but the available resources and efforts in combating poaching should be increased. This is an organised syndicate by foreigners and some locals," he said.

He said illegal trade in timber was another huge problem in the district and urged relevant authorities to conduct regular inspections.

"Indiscriminate charcoal burning and tree cutting is another problem in the district and we have engaged the Forestry Department so that the problem could be addressed," he said.