Zambian National Appeals Conviction and Sentence in MK53m Ivory Case

The High Court in Lilongwe has adjourned to 19 October,2023 to give its ruling on a case involving Zambian national who is appealing for both his sentence and conviction from the lower court.

The lower court sentenced Zambian national Kelby Roy Malambo to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for the three charges he faced in the MK53m wildlife crime case involving elephant ivory.

The charges Malambo faced were; being found in possession of specimen of listed species, dealing in government trophy and importing specimen of listed species without producing to a customs officer a valid permit.
Malambo was found with 22 pieces of raw ivory, weighing 64.905 kilograms and valued at about MK53 million.

He was arrested at Mwami Border Total Filling Station in Mchinji in February, 2021. Malambo, 47, comes from Livingstone City in Monze District in Zambia.

Speaking in an interview Senior State Advocate Siphosana Kajumie argued that that the Appellant failed to come forth in court as time elapsed 3 months ago and the court decided to proceed with the case saying he should give reasons as to why he has to build out of time.

“when you look at the grounds that he has given they do not really form a good basis why the court should allow to dismiss the case in its entirety,”she said.

Malambo is arguing that call logs that were recorded by Zambian communication service provider do not belong to him instead he is calling for fresh ones to be used as witnesses in court.

All those offences are contrary to the National Parks and Wildlife Act.