5 years for killing elephant

Ntchisi Magistrate’s Court on Monday convicted and sentenced a 47-year-old man to five years imprisonment for killing an elephant.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Austin Daudi told the court that on September 6 this year, Department of National Parks and Wildlife officials got a tip-off that the convict, Medson Msongazaudzu, entered Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve to poach.

Daudi said upon receiving the information, Department of National Parks and Wildlife officials launched a joint operation with police and arrested Msongazaudzu two days later.

Msongazaudzu pleaded guilty to three charges of being found in possession of a firearm, entering into a protected area without permit and killing protected species.

In his ruling, magistrate Dorothy Kalua said the offences are serious; hence, the convict deserved a stiffer sentence to serve as a warning to would-be offenders.

The convict comes from Mtawayira Village in Traditional Authority Nthondo in the district. n