Image: Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve has expressed concern over wildlife crimes that are on the rise in Ntchisi District.
Community Development Manager for Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Timothy Maseko Chana made the remarks on Friday during a sensitisation campaign at Muuta Primary School ground in the area of Senior Chief Nthondo in the district.
Chana said it is disheartening to note that a lot of malpractices of wildlife crimes continue to rise regardless of different interventions from different organisations.
He cited illegal charcoal burning, noting that 44 sites were discovered within the game reserve, with 36 of them—originating from Ntchisi District.
“We are hoping that with the sensitisation meetings we are conducting such cases will decrease” he said.
Second Grade Magistrate Frederick Malovu advised people in the district to avoid engaging in such malpractices, saying that once found the law will take its course.
“There are new penalties for wildlife crimes and as such, we are hoping that the district’s court will not be receiving many wildlife crime cases as stiffer sentences will be given to the offenders to serve as a warning to would-be offenders” Malovu explained.
Ntchisi North East legislator, Olipa Chimangeni thanked the organisation and its partners for the sensitisation campaign and asked her subjects to be on the forefront in reporting the perpetrators of the wildlife crime malpractices.
By Maria Tembo, MANA