Zomba Chief Resident Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced a 35 year-old man to eight years in jail with hard labour for dealing in buying and selling of rhino horns without licence.
Eastern Region Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Joseph Sauka said the convict Given Vwi Haiya was arrested after police got information that he was selling rhino horns.
Prosecution Officer Dickens Mwambazi told Zomba Chief Resident Magistrate court that the convict during the month of February this year at Ntaja area in Machinga district dealt in buying and selling of rhino horns without licence which is contrary to section 91(1) as read with section 110 of National Park and Wildlife Act.
Mwambazi said Haiya offered for sell rhino horns to a certain businessman from Mangochi and he even sent photos of fresh rhino horns to the potential customer.
According to Mwambazi, the rhino whose horns were being offered for sell is said to have been poached from Liwonde National Park in the same district of Machinga and is valued at 55,000 US dollars which is equivalent to K41, 250, 000, according to United Nation Global Environmental Crime.
After reading particulars of the offence, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and this made the Police to parade six witnesses including National Park officials.
Following the evidence tendered by the state, the court found Haiya guilty.
In his submission before sentencing, Mwambazi asked the court to consider giving the convict a stiffer sentence since he benefitted from the sales of the horns as nothing was recovered.
Mwambazi added that Malawi had rhinos at Liwonde National Park but due to people like Haiya, all the species were depleted until the Republic of South Africa donated 17 rhinos to the park. He however said that the donated rhinos have decreased to nine due to poaching.
“According to International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Malawi black rhino is listed as a critically endangered species hence the need for protection. I am therefore asking the court to give the convict a stiffer sentence if we are to protect our black rhinos,” said Mwambazi.
In mitigation, the convict asked for leniency when passing sentence as he is a first offender.
Passing sentence, Chief Resident Magistrate Agnes Patemba concurred with the state that the convict deserved a stiffer sentence considering the seriousness of the offence which attracts a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
Patemba said had it been that there were no people like the accused, poaching could have not been a problem in the country because there could have been no markets.
She said to show how serious the government is on wildlife, section 110 is under review and its maximum sentence will be raised to 30 years imprisonment. She then sentenced Haiya to eight years imprisonment with hard labour.
Given Vwi Haiya comes from Ntaja village, in the area of Senior Chief Kawinga in Machinga district.
Our constitution need to be revised. Sometimes you ask yourself whether some of these sentences are meant to give a other a lesson or an encouragement.
do we have rhinos in malawi?
Ammangidwe presdent kaye, coz waononga chuma cha dziko pamene anali ku overseas. Anayiwala umphawi wakwawo.
Why? pleae be serious that’s not a sentence for selling rhino horns
Zisiyeni zolengedwa za mulungu zigulisane kusiyana ndi aja anatilowa m’matumba aja
If Zomba resident magistrate were to preside over cashgate cases i believe he would have metted stiffer punishments to the convicts as opposed to what we have witnessed.The guy is the odd-one-out patriotic citizen i have seen in this recent times of backhanders,that hasn’t spared any public officer.
Life sentence like the way the rhino lost its life
Sadamudyere Akadamudyera Akanagamula Kuti Apere K30 Ngati Chindapusa (fine)
Khawuuuuu
Good lesson
voto boma la malawi limalimbana ndi munthu okupha nyama osati munthu ayi zisilu za boma la malawi furk mw
Eight years for selling rhino horn.2years for stealing 1.2billion the taxes of poor malawians. God will judge.
Dats fct bra!
Be serious our fellow are suffering in Tanzania but no action while u are also keeping lots of Magufuliz pple in this country do something plz!!!!!!
some 8 eight years ago I read somewhere that the government imported about 6 rhinos from south Africa since we don’t have rhinos in our parks or games,so my question is, “where was that man (convicted) getting the rhino-horns for the past 8 years?”
I am waiting for the answer from APM
We dont have rhinos in malawi.this is a lie.we have less than 15 and in sanctuary only
Ok so pali report loti kwafa Rhinos kuno? lusungu Mlotha.
….but be serious to net the illegal foreigners,our suffering in foreign countries
And two years for infecting hiv knowingly.?????
Za zii. Mukulimbana ndi munthu wongogulitsa minyanga ya chipembere, mukusiya anthu omwe anaba ndalama zankhaninkhani, ma bilion for that matter. Makhoti achimalawi, mbuzi zokhazokha.
#mbolizanu_agalu_inumukusiyaobamabilion_koma_kulimbana_ndi_ife_sitisiya_mpaka_arhino_anuwo_atatha_mtchilemu_apo_bi_muziaweta_oky_fuck
Shaaaa kuwononga myoyo yazinyama iii
#Mboli zanu agalu mukusiya
Achonseni Chimbenene Onse Olakwila Lamulo, Akufuna Kupedza Chi Trump Mosavutikila Etii???
Nsiyeni ndalama yavuta mwanva
Mmmm msiyeni mwana