LILONGWE – The Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate His Worship Viva Nyimba has ordered that a motor vehicle belonging to wildlife crimes convict James Mkwezalamba be handed over to National Parks and Wildlife Department.
The Principal Resident Magistrate forfeited the Toyota Voxy belonging to Mkwezalamba who was convicted on 18/08/2019 on a charge of found in possession of listed species, 3 live Pangolins and was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Commenting on the court order, National Parks and Wildlife Department spokesperson Brighton Kumchedwa described the development as positive.
He said, “The vehicle had been on the department’s radar. This is the vehicle that was used to commit the offence. It was a vehicle on our radar for quite some time. I am very sure that this will send a strong signal to would be offenders.”
He said the custodial sentences averaging 4 years being given so far signifys that wildlife cases are among serious cases in Malawi.
According to Kumchedwa, in 2019, the department in partnership with stakeholders arrested over 1000 wildlife criminals with crimes ranging from encroachment, illegal killing, illegal ivory trade and illegal Pangolin trade.
Mkwezalamba is the one who made the arrest of 10 Chinese possible including the kingpin Li Hau Yuan.
He was arrested on 4th May 2019 on M1 road block at 6 Miles In Lilongwe.
He pleaded guilty to the offense of illegal possession of specimen of listed species which is contrary to section 86(1) as read with section 110 B (b) of National Parks and wildlife Act.
