By Rahim Abdul
The Dalton Senior Resident Magistrate Court has sentenced 43-year-old Chikumbutso Mizati to 15 months imprisonment with hard labour for being found in possession of protected species, contrary to section 86(1) read with section 110(b) of the National Parks and Wildlife (Amendment of 2017) Act.
State prosecutor Superintendent James Kanyumbu told the court that on September 29, 2025, around noon, Mizati was arrested by Parks and Wildlife officers at Maselema Roundabout in Limbe. He was found selling seven live birds kept in two separate cages.
Kanyumbu explained that Mizati was selling three birds in one cage at a wholesale price of K7,000, while the other cage was being sold at K5,000. According to Government Notice No.104 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, the birds are valued at K140,000 each, totaling K980,000, highlighting the significant underpricing by the convict.
During mitigation, Mizati pleaded for leniency, stating that he is a married man with children who depend on him for support.
However, the state opposed his appeal for leniency, arguing that Mizati was not a first-time offender. He had previously been arrested in October 2023 for the same offense.
The state also emphasized that Mizati’s actions endangered the survival of protected species and underlined the ecological importance of birds in the environment.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ackia Mwanyongo agreed with the prosecution, sentencing Mizati to 15 months imprisonment with hard labour.
Mizati hails from Zammimba Village under the area of Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka District.
