Shop breakers jailed Four years

———The Magistrate’s court in Itezhi Tezhi district in central province has convicted and sentenced two men and a juvenile to four years for shop breaking and stealing property  valued at K26, 000.

Felix Kazuni and Patrick Visenga23 both aged 23 and an 18 year-old juvenile  from Lilanda compound in Itezhi Tezhi  were jointly charged with two counts of breaking into a building and committing a felony contrary to section 119 cap  87 of the Laws of Zambia.

According to particulars of the offence,  on  count  one, the trio are  alleged to  have jointly and while acting together  on 18 October  20134, broke into Crispin Kashweka’s  Shop and stole  a trunk, 80 cellular phones, 20 memory  cards, 100 phone chargers and other assorted goods valued at K19,000.

On count two, on the same date, the trio jointly and  while acting  together  did  break  into  Robson Mukwashi’s shop and  stole assorted goods which included solar panels, 78 sunglasses , radios and other goods worth K7,000.

Magistrate Munalula Mubita said the offence committed by the trio was a felony and that it was widespread in Itezhi Tezhi district.

Magistrate Mubita sentenced the trio to two years imprisonment with hard labour for each count and ordered that the sentences run consecutively.

The trio in their plea of mitigation begged the court to be lenient in sentencing them as they were married and that they were first offenders.

The four year sentence is subject to confirmation by the high court.

Meanwhile, two poachers of Masemu village in Itezhi Tezhi district have been fined K900 after being found guilty of unlawful possession of government trophy contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Muliya Kaingu 31 and Jasper Mulukwa 25, were charged with unlawful possession of government trophy.

Facts of the matter were that on 6th December 2014, Zambia Wild Life Authority (ZAWA) intelligence received information that some people were in possession of game meat.

Acting on the same information, ZAWA officers made a follow up which led to the arrest of the duo.

The duo was found in possession of 199.6 kilogrammes of assorted game meat which was later disposed off by the court.

“This offence is so prevalent in Itezhi Tezhi and the court has heard all what you have said in your mitigation and I order you to pay a fine of K900 or in default 12 months imprisonment” Magistrate Mubita said.