Four Congolese arrested in Mufulira

Four Congolese nationals have been apprehended for indiscriminate cutting down of trees in a local forest in Mufulira.

The four were captured on Wednesday morning in a joint operation between officers from the forestry department and Zambia Police. They were found cutting down trees in Lumina local forest without a licence to allow them to enter a restricted area.

District Forestry Officer Frank Tembo confirmed to Zanis that the Congolese nationals were captured about 500 meters inside the forest on the Zambian side.
He said the four men were from chief Kipushi of Lumina village in the democratic Republic of Congo.
The four are Kacvwita Kaunda, John Chinyama, Kaindu Chola and John Mulyamu.

Mr. Tembo said the four were held at Central police where they were charged with contravening the forestry ACT Cap. 199 section 16a and b of the laws of Zambia.

The joint operation was conducted as a measure to conrol the rampant illegal cutting down of trees along the border area.

Mr. Tembo said the encroachment of foreigners in the local and natonal forests in the district had become rife hence the need to patrol forest lines along the border areas.

He also appealed for the provincial permanent joint commission to ensure that boundary issues in the district were clearly defined to avoid further encroachment of forests.