Three men were sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for the illegal possession of 14 elephant tusks in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court last Thursday.
The three Zambian convicts, Lumwalo Mutanizona, Mibonda Muswanezi and Inambo Kwalela, were also sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for illegally entering Namibia.
According to court records, the three suspects were arrested on 5 December 2023 in the Kapani area with 18 elephant tusks with a value of N$894 520 during an undercover operation by the police.
The three were charged with possession of controlled wildlife products without a licence, money laundering and illegally entering Namibia.
Magistrate Barry Mufana, during sentencing, said mercy is a vital consideration without reducing it to misdirected pity.
“Regarding the personal circumstances, all of the accused are more or less the same, where they are first-time offenders, they are all unemployed and they have two children each. They have also been in custody for two years and 10 months,” he said.
Mufana added that the court sides with the state due to the seriousness and prevalence of the crimes they are accused of.
“Heavy penalties have been introduced in respect to wildlife crimes to deter them from happening. These fines of N$15 million or 20 years’ imprisonment demonstrate the seriousness of these wildlife crimes,” he said.
“As for the second charge, the state did not fully prove their charge of money laundering. Therefore, this court finds that the three accused are not guilty of that charge,” he said.
Mufana advised the accused that they have the right to appeal against their conviction and sentence on their own or with their lawyers.
The state prosecutor in the matter was Bronah Mukoya, while the three accused represented themselves.
