By Rebecca Chimjeka:
Minister of Natural Resources Aggrey Masi has said the arrest of 191 people for wildlife crimes in the past year is a milestone in the fight against wildlife crime.
The minister said this during the launch of the 2015 to 2018 report on illegal wildlife trade.
According to the report, within 18 months after amending the National Parks and Wildlife Act in 2017, 191 poachers got arrested and 112 custodial sentences were meted out.
“The amended Wildlife Act of 2017 has significantly stiffened wildlife penalty provisions. That has made Malawi treat the crimes as serious,” Masi said.
Masi also commended the Federal Republic of Germany for pumping taxpayers’ money in the initiative.
Germany Ambassador to Malawi, Jürgen Bosch, described the report as an important document.
“Poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products are a global challenge and trafficking in wildlife is the fourth most profitable criminal enterprise worldwide after trafficking in drugs, guns and people,” he said
He said his government’s common goal was to preserve the world’s natural heritage, including Malawi’s wildlife.
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