Two Men Jailed for Killing Protected Animals in Nyika National Park

The First Grade Magistrate’s Court sitting at Mhuju in Rumphi has convicted and sentenced 47-year-old James Msiska and 41-year-old Sangwani Mbale to eight years and six years imprisonment with hard labour, respectively.

The two were found guilty of entering a protected area without a permit, possessing weapons in a protected area without a permit, killing endangered animal species, and killing a protected animal species in a protected area.

State prosecutor, senior assistant parks and wildlife officer John Mabethi, told the court that the two were arrested at Sangule area inside Nyika National Park after killing three wild animals, an eland, a roan antelope, and a bushbuck, without a permit.

The two pleaded guilty. In mitigation, Msiska said he committed the offence because he did not harvest enough due to erratic rainfall, while Mbale said he was trying to raise money to pay school fees for his children.

Mabethi asked the court for a stiff penalty, arguing that “the animals cannot be replaced” and that wildlife “attracts tourists who bring in forex to the country.”

First grade magistrate Cuthbert Phiri agreed with the prosecution, noting that Msiska had committed similar offences in 2023 and “seems not to have changed.” He sentenced Msiska to two years, eight years, seven years, and five years for the four offences, to run concurrently.

Mbale was sentenced to one year and six months, five years, six years, and four years for the four offences, also to run concurrently.

Msiska hails from Makanga Village, while Mbale is from Matupi Village, both under Traditional Authority Mwahenga in Rumphi District.