Malawi Police officer convicted over illegal possession of charcoal
The Mangochi Second Grade Magistrate Court recently convicted and ordered Sub Inspector Palivati Kholowa, 42, of Zomba Police Station to pay K200, 000 or in default serve a one year jail term for being found in possession of charcoal produced from indigenous trees from Liwonde Forest Reserve.
The court also ordered the Department of Forest to seize the vehicle which the officer was using to transport 24 bags of charcoal to Zomba and sale it at an auction.
According to Prosecutor, Sub inspector Rodrick Kamuona, the convict was arrested at Nsomba Trading Center in Zomba on 2 June as Machinga Police together with Liwonde National Park and Machinga Forest Patrol officers were on a joint operation to corner charcoal dealers.
Kholowa is said to have been driving a Pajero vehicle registration number ZA 7286 which had the 24 bags of charcoal.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charge of being found in possession of forest produce without a permit which is contrary to Section 68 of the Forestry Act.
In mitigation, he asked the court for leniency saying he has three children currently in school who need his financial support.
Passing his sentence, Second Grade Magistrate, Maxwell Boasi, condemned Kholowa’s involvement in illegal charcoal dealings saying it is the duty of the police and other law enforcers to stop deforestation in the country.
Magistrate Boasi, thereby, ordered Kholowa to pay a fine of K200, 000 or spend one year in jail. He also ordered that his vehicle be seized and sold by auction to allow the proceeds be channeled towards environmental conservation.
Kholowa who paid the K200, 000 fine, hails from Mbwindi Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Malili in Lilongwe.
Galimoto mupatseni makala ndi Galimoto sizikugwilizana ayi .Anthu akuba zinthu zinthu osati makala ai wakabela NDANI makalawo. Simwati ndimitengo ya chilengedwe ndiye kuti siyamunthu ndiyamulungu mumveleni chisoni
Galimoto mumupase munthu sizikugwirizane ngati zili mumalamulo chosanimoni chifukwa makala ndi Galimoto ndi zinthu ziwiri zosiyana ndipo sizizafanana mpaka kakle kale!
they have started selling charcoal because of poor economic in Malawi, they failed to pay school fees for their children due to low minimum wage in Malawi, instead to prevent they start destroying. zonsekensa bwanji a Malawi
asalanso ena ofunika muwagwire alipo ambiri mu Police college ,they use their work as a tool some are also selling chamba
The Hunter has become the hunted…
Koma George Chaponda wangosiyidwa kumamwa vinyo ali phee pamodzi ndo Goodall and Peter Mutharika.
Law enforcement at its best! The question is, who is policing who? Who is hiding from who? Who are the criminals between civilians and the men and women in uniform? Koma ndiye abwana mpaka muluze Pajero chifukwa cha makala? It’s true that this world is round, and everything in it goes round and round.
Inu iweruza ndichifukwa chiyani akufika pogulitsa makala?