By Vincent Gunde
Balaka Senior Resident Magistrate Joshua Nkhono has ordered three men to pay a fine of K100,000.00 each or in default serve 18 months imprisonment with hard labour for cutting down trees in a forest reserve without authority.
The court through state prosecutor Constable Paul Shema heard that the convicts Paul Mungomo, Misheck Masese and Joseph Mcherewatha on June 26, 2024 at Demeter Farm in the district of Balaka were found cutting down trees at Demeter Fuel and Crops Farm Forest Reserve without authority and value of the trees being K650,000.00.
Appearing before court, the convicts pleaded guilty to charges of cutting down trees in a forest reserve contrary to Section 46 of the Forest Act.
Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Joshua Nkhono concurred with the state’s submission and ordered the convicts to pay a fine of K100,000.00 each or in default serve 18 months imprisonment with hard labour as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.
They have since paid the fine.
Paul Mungomo, 49, comes from Makawa Village, Misheck Masese, 52, is from Chilimba Village and Joseph Mcherewatha, 70, is from Tapuwa Village, all from Traditional Authority Nkaya in Balaka District.
In a related development, the Second Grade Magistrate’s Court in the district has convicted and sentenced a 52-year-old man, Wyson Nkuwo, of Chipapa Village in Traditional Authority Kalembo in Balaka District, to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a bicycle.
