Malawi: Three illegal gold miners of the Lumezi district have been fined for illegally entering the Lukusuzi National Park. The suspects did not have the documentation or permission to enter the premises.
The suspects have been identified as Isaac Ngulube aged 27, Norman Gwai aged 25, and France Banda aged 23, The three suspects were working together and hail from the Chief Chikomeni area in Lumezi district.
The officials have shared that the incident happened on February 6, 2024. The accused persons jointly entered the Lukusuzi National Park with the intent to mine gold.
They entered without an entry permit as required by law and were proved to be equally involved in the execution of the offense. Meanwhile, after the police force of the Lumezi District arrested the convicts, they were presented in front of the court.
The Lundazi Magistrate Court heard their case on Thursday and fined the convicts K120,000 each. The officials clarified that in default of the fine payment, they would be required to serve nine months of simple imprisonment.
The trio pleaded guilty to one count of illegal entry into the park, contrary to section 18(1), and 136(a), ACT number 14 of 2015 of the laws of Zambia.
At the hearing, the accused persons confessed that they were working together on the day of the offense. They did enter Lukusuzi National Park with the intent to mine gold without an entry permit as required by law.
During the hearing, the accused persons asked the court to exercise maximum leniency, for being first offenders. They also apologized for their actions and assured that the situation would not rise again.
When the court was passing judgment, Magistrate Muyambango took into account their mitigation. Accordingly, they fined them K120,000 each with effect from February 6th, 2024. The offenders have been warned against the actions.
The Lukusuzi National Park is home to the Kapilinkesa Mine where government-sactioned mining is legal.