Kaputa Magistrates Court has sentenced five individuals to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful hunting and two additional wildlife-related offences.

Before Magistrate Emmanuel Mukoma were Kapembwa Evans (43), Joe Mazimba (28), Felix Chola (32), Kennedy Mofu (30), and Kalumba Kopa (25), all of Nsenga Village in Chief Kaputa’s Chiefdom in Kaputa District.

This is a matter that came up for sentencing in which the five were facing three different counts.

In count one, the five were accused of unlawful entry in the national park contrary to the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015.

In count two, the three were facing one count of unlawful entry with weapons in the national park.

In the third count, the five were facing the offence of unlawful hunting in a national park.

Facts of the matter were that on February 1, 2026, around 02:00 hours, wildlife police officers, while on operation, apprehended the five at Tushitu.

Magistrate Mukoma found all five guilty and convicted them on all three charges.

The sentences are to run concurrently.