Illegal hunting lands two in court

-Two men of  Chief Shezongo’s  area in Itezhi Tezhi district have appeared in the local magistrate court for illegal hunting of a Zebra .

The two are also facing a charge of being in possession of 207 kilo grams of Zebra meat worth thousands of kwacha.

Wynter Mwepa, 38, is jointly accused with Codex Mooba, 27, of the same area who has denied the charge of killing the wild animal but pleaded guilty to being found in possession of Zebra meat.

The duo appeared before Itezhi Tezhi magistrate Munalula Mubita faced with four counts.

Particulars of the offence in the first count are that Mwepa and Mooba on 20^th February 2014 jointly and whilst acting together did have in possession of prescribed trophy namely a zebra skin without a certificate of ownership issued to their respect contrary to section 91 and 136(2) (a) of the Wild life Act number 12 of 1998 of the laws of Zambia.

In the second count Mwepa and Mooba face a count of being in possession of a government trophy namely Zebra  meat, a protected animal contrary to section 100(1) (2) of the Wild Life Act number 12 of 1998.

In count three the duo were charged with unlawful possession of a wire.

The allegation against the duo is that on February 20,2014  they were found with a wire which they were using g to set and trap the animals in the game park.

And in the fourth count, the duo faced the charge of unlawful hunting and the charge against them is that on 20^th February 2014 around 06:00 hours in Nkala Game Management Area  in Itezhi Tezhi district killed one Zebra without a license from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Director  General.

Mwepa pleaded guilty to all the four counts while Mooba denied the first count but pleaded guilty to the other three charges.

The duo also admitted in court that they had no permit allowing them to possess such trophies.

They told the court that they wanted the meat for relish and that they knew their conduct constituted an offence.

The matter has been adjourned to tomorrow for written facts and sentencing.