2 get hefty fines for illegal transportation of charcoal
A court in Kasungu has handed down hefty fines to two people for illegal transportation of charcoal.
The First Grade Magistrate Court in Kasungu has ordered Lovemore Njolomole and Jacqueline Malipa to pay fine of K500, 000 and K400, 000 respectively or in default serve 15 months imprisonment with hard labour for transporting charcoal without permission.
The court heard through State Prosecutor Vickness Chinseu that on February 8, 2021, the two were found in possession of 39 bags of charcoal at Chimaliro forest in the district.
Chinseu told the court that the two convicts were intercepted at Chimaliro forest roadblock while carrying 39 bags of charcoal in a three tonne motor vehicle van registration number BU1856 belonging to Siku transport company.
During court proceeding, First Grade Magistrate Damiano Banda found the two guilty of two counts; found in possession of charcoal without licence, contrary to section 68 of Forest Act, and Trafficking of forest produce without a licence, contrary to section 68(1) of Forest Act.
In his judgement, Magistrate Damiano convicted and sentenced Lovemore Njolomole to pay a fine of K400 000 and K100,000 for the motor vehicle and Jacqueline Malipa to a fine of K400 000 and in default to serve 15 months imprisonment with hard labour.
Jacqueline Malipa comes from Mwinje village, Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba district while Lovemore Njolomole comes from Njolomole village in the area of Traditional Authority Njolomole in Ntcheu district.
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Chonde chonde mamajisiliti .Kodi titapita ku nyumba kwanu sitikapeza makala? Bwanji nkhanza mukudziwa pa Malawi pali vuto la umphawi la zaoneni. Ngati ma bige akutafuna za covid ndiye munthu wakaoda mpaka chindapusa ngati wapha munthu?
That is the way to go to deal with deforestation. We have no trees left in the south and centre and these people dealing in charcoal are moving up to the north. You will very soon see the Luwawa forest being chopped down.
The major problem with our courts though is the inconsistencies in the punishment. Today it is 400000, tomorrow it’s gonna be 20000 and after that it will a community service….It’s hectic to be a Malawian..
Good
Ka boma kamenekasotu kakuonjeza. Makala enafe taphunzilila, tavalila and tapanga nao zambili kale loseli. Ai man mukutionjeza now. Magetsi kulibe, so wa ma kala ndi nkhuni akhala akutisunga kwa zaka zonsezi.
Please remind me ka minister ka zachilengedwe ndi ndani?
# 1 million jobs!!!! Idiots
Bravo our legal system! Unless we tighten more the noose on deforestation and charcoal production and trafficking, Malawi is heading for disaster! Go and observe what goes on various roadblocks in most districts…. truckloads of illegal charcoal is aided by the same people entrusted to protect for a BRIBE! sHAME ON YOU UNPATRIOTIC CITIZENS. You seem not to care as long as your bellies are satisfied at the expense of future generation. Government, please dont continue being non responsive. Provide tangible and long lasting sources of livelihoods to vulnerable communities. Secondly provide other sources of energy to charcoal!!!!! Munzimvanko zinazi… Read more »
slowly the noose is closing in on malawians this is when mudziwe kuti kongelesi sizinthu
Are you happy with a degraded environment? Do you know what it means to have no trees? Do you know the responsibility of government? Check who proposed the amendment to the Forest Act.
akati conci nde abwana amakaunjika kukhomo kwao nkuyamba kugulitsa. taziinako ife