SOME officers from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) trailing about 10 trucks laden with Mukula logs were on Thursday stoned by irate Malawian villagers.
And another truck laden with Mukula logs destined to Malawi believed to be from Katete has been impounded in Chadiza District.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Dr Chileshe Mulenga confirmed the development in Chipata yesterday that the ZRA officers were stoned by the Malawians for trailing the trucks laden with Mukula logs.
“The officers from ZRA who were trailing trucks laden with Mukula logs were stoned yesterday (Thursday) in Malawi and after being stoned they decided to discontinue with their mission to continue trailing of the trucks,” he said.
Dr Mulenga said the Malawian authorities however denied the entry of the trucks into that country.
He said his Government would engage the new Malawian government in an effort to clamp down the vice.
He also said the trucks that slipped into Malawi were because of the police officers who did not do their job accordingly.
Dr Mulenga however said the 34 trucks which were impounded for being in possession of the Mukula logs weighing 30 tones would wait the advised from the Attorney General’s office.
He said the trucks would not be released until the advice from the Attorney General and said anyone found wanting would be dealt with accordance with the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
On Wednesday, 34 trucks laden with Mukula logs were impounded at Mwami Border Post.
Last week, Dr Mulenga said it was illegal to harvest, posses, transport and trade the Mukula tree species.
He warned foreign nationals involved in the harvesting, storage, transportation and trading in the Mukula tree of deportation while the equipment, buildings and motor vehicles used in the illegal harvesting transportation and storage of the tree species shall be forfeited to the state.
Forest kudiamo too much)
Serves them well. Why on earth did they enter another country? They should have finished the revenue business on the Zambian boarder. Since when did ZRA become an authority for the two countries, or are they now doubling as international police?
Zambia is in the top 10 list of countries that are suffering massive deforestation. One wonders what the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and ZEMA are doing about this. The $tupiti Malawians should also stop growing tobacco. Malawi is empty of trees because they have all been used for curing tobacco. That’s why these !diots have now turned to Zambia.
The trees are cut in your country and you want to follow them to another country? Myopic to say the least. Control from the source if you have brains,
Masebo was right when she said our borders are porous and where is GMB who was furious about his colleagues remarks.
No wonder poachers and Boers fly in their wealthy clients to trophy hunt our big game right under our noses.
Of all the Departments in our government, Forest Dept is rotten and full of corrupt stinking civil servants! The issue of mukula and cancellation of concessions has brought untold sufferings to many who depend on legal timber business as the source of income.why is the department failing to put an end to mukula cutting and illegal exportation? why should ZRA play the role of forest officers who should have prevented the cutting down of mukula? many questions with no answers!
What a poorly written story! The reader has to assume where this happened. What happened OMG!