The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Services in Monze District over the weekend and this morning arrested nine suspects who were found in possession of 160 Kilogrammes of Dried Zebra Meat and a live protected Pangolin.

And the Department says rehabilitation works on the Lochnivar Lodge is are nearing completion following the release of more than K500,000 by government towards the refurbishment of the structure and other tourism facilities in the National Park.

Monze District Area Warden Wilfred Moonga said out of the suspects, six were arrested on Saturday around 16 : 00 hours while the rest were arrested this morning around 09: 00 hours.

Mr. Moonga who confirmed the arrests to ZANIS today said the six suspects who included a police officer were found in possession of a live Pangolin without legal documents contrary to the Wildlife Act N0. 14 of 2015 of the laws of Zambia.

The six suspects who are all males were apprehended around 16 hours on Saturday after a tip of from members of public as they tried to sale the Pangolin at K80,000 in Monze’s Manungu compound, he said.

Suspects arrested included Patrick Mulenga aged 34 of Petauke compound in Petauke District, Cephas Zulu aged 58 of Kalindawalo chiefdom in Petauke District, Peter Phiri aged 38 of Kabasa Chiefdom in Katete District , Munyangano Musoke aged 36 of Naluwama chiefdom in Mazabuka District.

Also included are Peter Nthani aged 36 and Charles Mbawo aged 56 of Garden Compound and Chelston in Lusaka, respectively.

“ I can confirm that we arrested 9 suspects in total out of these, six were found in possession of a live Pangolin and three have been arrested today after they were found in possession dried meat,” said Mr. Moonga.

Mr. Moonga said the Department believes the suspects poached the live Pangolin from one of the Districts in East Province and were trying to sale it to unsuspecting members of public in Monze District.

The area warden said the rescued Pangolin has since been released in Lochnivar National Park adding that the Department has since seized a Toyota Hilux Surf registration Number ARB 1330 belonging to one of the suspected alleged to have been used to traffic the live protected animal.

And Mr. Moonga said three suspected poachers were arrested after they were found in unlawful possession of 160 kilogrammes of dried Zebra meat concealed in a large plastic bag without a legal documents.

He identified the suspects as Mweemba Machelo female aged 38, Christine Mweemba female aged 30, and a male Mayambu Chiyoba aged 23 all of Chief Hamusonde’a area in Monze District.

“This Morning around 9 hours near Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Stadium, we arrested three suspects , two females and a male who were found in possession of 160 kilogrammes of dried Zebra Meat government trophy which they concealed in large plastic bag popularly known as, “ Ukwa bag” as they were trying to hike en-route to Lusaka ostensibly to sale the meat,” said Mr, Moonga.

The Department has for this reason heightened patrols in the Lochnivar National Park and spot checks in the District to prevent poaching and prevent trafficking of government trophy by poachers, he said.

He, however said the Department needs more manpower and resources to adequately conduct patrols and intensify nights patrols in the Park.

“I would say we seem to have rampant poaching especially during this time of the year when some people are facing hunger and also because of the proximity of Lochnivar to Lusaka where there is a seemingly a ready market for bush meat,” Mr. Moonga said.

He added that the, “Department needs more resources and manpower to curb any poaching activities.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Moonga said the completion of rehabilitation works on the Lochnivar Lodge would help to spar tourism arrivals to the National Park renowned for its unrivalled Lechwe and bird population.

He said so far government has released more than K500,000 for rehabilitation works on the lodge and other tourism sites adding that the major rehabilitations works on the tourism facilities in the park would significantly revive tourism in the District and subsequently tourist arrivals in the National park.