Luwingu court fines Tanzanians for illegal possession of mukula logs

–The Luwingu subordinate court has fine two Tanzania nationals K10, 000 each for unlawful possession of Mukula tree logs contrary to the laws of Zambia while their truck registration number T481BTD and trailer registration T546 BTU with 160 logs of mukula tree have been forfeited to the state.

 

Appearing before Luwingu Magistrate Davy Simfukwe, were Dickson Davies Emmanuel and Paulo Malugu Mbonje, both of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.

 

Particulars of the offence were that Dickson and Paulo jointly and whilst acting together did have in their possession 160 logs of Mukula tree without authority destined for Dar-es Salaam in Tanzania.

 

The duo pleaded guilty to the charge read to them by magistrate Simfukwe on Tuesday last week.

 

Magistrate Simfukwe found both guilty of the offence as charged and convicted them accordingly.

 

In mitigation both convicts said they were married with children, adding that if sent to jail their families in Dar-es-Salaam will face difficulties to find ends meet because they were also bread winners.

 

“Both convicts are first offenders and have readily admitted the charge without wasting the court’s time and are therefore entitled to leniency,” he added.

 

Magistrate Simfukwe explained that the offence carries a maximum sentence of a fine of K90, 000 (500, 000 penalty unit) or to be imprisonment for a period term not exceeding 5 years with hard labour or to both.

 

“I took into account the mitigation by the two convicts. However, I am duty bound to protect our national resources by imposing deterrent sentences, he said.