Two Zambian fishermen who were arrested in Zimbabwe for illegal fishing on that country’s side of Lake Kariba have been sentenced to six months prison at the Magistrate court in Kariba town.
Siavonga District Commissioner ( DC ) Lovemore Kanyama who attended the court proceedings yesterday in Kariba said the two fishermen Fridas Maguswi 29 and Webby Nyambe 35 will serve their jail sentence in Zimbabwe.
The duo was arrested on Monday this week.
Mr Kanyama said the fishermen were sentenced to six months imprisonment for failing to observe the water boundary on Lake Kariba, as they were pushed into Zimbabwe by a strong current while fishing.
He also bemoaned that the two fishermen were also beaten by the Zimbabwean security forces when they were arrested and they had bruises on their bodies.
“I was in Zimbabwe today to attend their case and I can confirm that the two sustained bruises on their faces, which I can describe as unfortunate looking at the cordial relationship we have with Zimbabwe,” Mr. Kanyama said.
He has urged the Zimbabwean security to treat Zambian offenders humanely in a similar manner Zimbabweans who commit similar offences are treated on the Zambian side in Siavonga District.
“ In a gesture of good will, Zimbabwean fishermen who commit similar offences ( on the Zambian side ) at times they are released unconditionally which should be reciprocated, “ he said.
He said what he witnessed in Zimbabwe was not pleasing compared to how they treat Zimbabwean fishermen who commit similar offences on the Zambian side of Lake Kariba.
The DC has since appealed both Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Zambia and Zimbabwe to resolve fishing cases for fishermen.
Cases of Zambian fishermen being arrested are on an increase in 2017 there were more than 40 Zambians fishermen serving jail sentences for illegal fishing on the Zimbabwean side of Lake Kariba.
The white man put these borders 200yrs ago and we still respect them. The people on both side of the Kariba are Tonga, one people fighting each other over what? This is the curse of Africa and African leadership
Btw… Can Chinese fraudsters in Zambia experience imprisonment? Just wonsering. Never heard of the China man being locked up in Zambia for 6months
The people of Zimbabwe are generally unkind. We have kept Zimbabweans dring there food crisis and we continue to do so. This is something Zimbabwe would not have done on the citizens of any of its neighbours. Zimbabweans kill a lot of people on the Frontiers including traders, hunters and fishermen. Zimbabwe needs to be reminded that enough is enough and we will begin to hit back. How many Zimbabwean prostitutes are camped in Zambia?
@Aleppo Trump you are spot on. Chifundo ma Zambian kkkkkkkkkkk.we keep a lot of foreigners at a huge cost
We have a lot of Zambians also on this side and we kept you too during your time of struggle, so dont try to mix issues here if the fisherman were found guilty they must face justice.
You mean those that toiled in your mines and you still xenophobic towards them calling them manyasaranda. while you complain about south Africans you guys are also xenophobic. Now that your economy is recovering you will be back to your xenophobic ways.
There is no justice in torture… 6 months imprisonment surely does not include torture.
The fact that you kept them does not mean that you should break the law.
Zimbabwe must stop this savagery. The Rhodesia bully days are over. we are brothers.
People must understand that an offence is petty. Its not a felony or that grave serious in nature. Secondly, good gesture must b exercise. A warning plus a fine can b punishment enough.
If indeed the Zambian fishermen were tortured, then that act is baberic, unfriendly, unbrotherly and evil in the actual sense.
If Zimbabweans who prostitute in Zambia have been leniently treated as prostitution is an offence in Zambia, why can’t Zimbabwean authority practice lenience towards Zambian abrogators in zimbabwe?
I wonder. Perhaps u have hearts of steel.
If it is natural causes they have no control of putting them in jail or experirnce beating that thing just happen naturally fellow Africans be merciful to other’s so that your sins should be forgiven also.