Itezhi Tezhi Magistrates court has convicted and fined a 42-year-old fisherman a total of K240 for unlawful entry in the national park.
Before court was Clifford Kalaluka of Chawama Compound in Itezhi Tezhi district in Central Province who stood charged with two counts.
The first count was unlawful entry into the national park while the second count was having unlawful possession of weapons in the national park.
In count one, particulars alleged that on 25 January 2019 in Itezhi Tezhi district of Central Province , Kalaluka did enter into the national park without authority from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).
In count two particulars are that on the same day in the Itezhi Tezhi district, Kalaluka did possess weapons namely two fishing nets, paddle and dugout canoe.
Facts were that on January 25, 2019 officers from the department of national park and wildlife were on duty patrolling the Kafue National Park when they came across the now accused who was paddling a canoe.
Officers introduced themselves and requested him to produce papers that authorized him to be on the lake but had not done so.
Kalaluka was then apprehended and later arrested and charged with the subject offence.
When the matter came up for plea, Kalaluka pleaded guilty and was convicted upon his own admission.
In mitigation, Kalaluka pleaded for maximum leniency saying that he has six children and looking after his 93-year-old father.
However, magistrate Magistrates Keggan Litia said while he considered Kalaluka’s mitigation, he was sentencing fining him K 120 on each offence or serve three months in default to discourage would be offenders.
“Laws restricting entry into national park exist to preserve wildlife, to achieve sustainable hunting and promote tourism, if illegal hunting goes unchecked, we will deplete our wildlife and posterity will judge us, ” Magistrates Litia said in passing sentence.
He then ordered him to pay a fine of K120 for each of the offence totaling to K240, in default he will serve 3 months simple imprisonment for each count and they shall run consecutively.
So we can’t go to national parks any more because we need papers? What happens if I want to go camping in a gaming management area or just fishing at a lake or river? Is this still the country our forefathers fought for?
Kekekeke how can a canoe and a fishing net be weapons?
These PF judges are serious comedians, they should start televising court hearings on Prime TV.
Having lived oversees and learn, appreciated the seriousness Govts append to Natural preservation of natural habitation. I think the judge is in the right to making sure we keep in check of our natural heritage, preserve wild life sanctuary and such. We as Zambian too should be mindful of the laws around us. There is so much ignorance with people. ” am the bread winner and I have three children” that’s enough to be thoughtful and careful at our every-day actions
Kwena awe mukwai. These national parks should benefit citizens noti amatourists fye. This man should be allowed to go in a park. Did he hunt anything bashimafumu?
The man was just making use of what is naturally available to him. There is no mention of any wrong doing here, why are poor people treated with such injustice, go after people who stole umukula. These judges are mute when politicians steal. Better to apply rules or laws or whatever you want to call them justly and not selectively
You cannot enter a National Park without paying fees! This is how a country generates tourism revenue. There is also wildlife that needs to be protected. Imagine a person with a rifle in a National Park! What would a reasonable person assume? Same goes with the person with a canoe and fishing net. You need a permit to go fishing in some areas. The same way people illegally kill wildlife for bush meat and sell it, is the same scenario for the guy with the canoe and fishing net. Game rangers are just doing their job and fines are necessary to deter people from such activities. It has nothing to do with being unfair.