Zambia Police have arrested two people in Sesheke District for being in possession of 19 ivory tusks, an AK 47 riffle, and eight rounds of ammunitions.
Police Spokesperson Ndandula Siamana who confirmed this development to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka, today.
Ms. Siamana said the two were arrested in Shesheke yesterday and were using a Nissan Twin cab registration number GRZ 271 BX belonging to ZANIS.
Ms. Siamana named the two as Patrick Chanda 40, and Clement Chipupa 41 but she could not state whether the suspects are workers of ZANIS or not.
She said the persons have since been detained and handed over to the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA).
Ms. Siamana said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Sam Phiri, says the ministry has instituted investigation to ascertain whether the driver was alone or was working with other persons within or outside the ministry.
Dr. Phiri said in a statement that the ministry has also instituted stern disciplinary action against the officer in line with the applicable civil service regulations.
“Stern disciplinary action has been instituted in line with the applicable civil service regulations irrespective of the outcome of the ongoing investigations by ZAWA and other security services,” he said.
He added that the driver traveled from Lusaka without the knowledge and permission of the ministry.
Dr. Phiri stated that he had issued instructions two weeks ago to curtail the abuse of the ministry’s vehicles adding that the case shows the need for more stringent measures to be instituted to stop abuse of government transport in the ministry.
[ZANIS]
Greed or is it poverty
Using govt vehicles for contraband, typical mmd
Lekeni abantu balelunga insofu. Others you don’t arrest them. We were just spending big money burying a big thief let the people get some elephant tusks, ala!
The two apprehended are PF sympathisers and were taking the tusks to madumbo maliketi GBM
chi number 4 uli cipuba we mbushi we uli chinyau or likishi?
Very suspicious indeed this..how can a mere driver travel all that way with a government vehicle without arousing suspicious from junior officials at the ministry, even if you have alot of vehicles in your car park!!
Very sad selfish and uncaring people. That is 10 elephants down right there. If you add the times they evaded the law then we might be talking about hundreds. Just like # 3 amafuus from Zambia.
Nubian Chimbwi. You poacher.I thought you had brains. Seems not to be case.
ha ha ha ha @gorilla man awe this is funny…. enuff said i think i dont need to commenton this one lol!
too bad mr chanda