Fishermen Fined K480,000 After Illegal Entry Into National Park

Two fishermen have been fined by the Itezhi Tezhi Magistrates Court after entering Kafue National Park illegally.

The illegal entry occurred on Wednesday 3rd August as the fishermen, Joseph Chinyama and Bernard Kaumba, entered into the park without a permit and with unlawful weapons. Weapons held by the individuals included a dugout canoe, 2 fishing nets and 2 paddling sticks. Their fines for both these crimes came to K240,000 each.

Kafue National Park became aware of their illegal entry as Gorge Sakala, an an officer with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, received a report from management that there were activities going on in the Kafue National Park at Mwamalilenje. The officer went inside the park to investigate with other officers from the anti-poaching team and confronted two guys in a dugout canoe, whom they identified as Joseph Chinyama and Bernard Kaumba. The suspects were then transferred to Ngoma, where they were charged and arrested for the alleged crime.

Both trespassers pleaded guilty to their charges.