Gun Ownership Lands Headman In Court

A 73-year-old headman of Sikachani village in Choma has been found with a case to answer by the Choma Magistrate’s Court for allegedly illegally transferring ownership of a shotgun without a firearm transfer certificate.
This is in a case in which Simeon Mudimba of Chief Singani’s area is charged with unlawful transfer of a firearm without a certificate.
It is alleged that Mudimba, between December 1 last year and May 31 this year in Choma, being the owner of a Bico shotgun serial number 13005052, did transfer the said firearm without a transfer certificate.
Mudimba appeared before principal resident magistrate Willie Sinyangwe last Friday and denied the charge.
Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) senior investigations officer Charles Kapindula told the court that on the fateful day, he and his four colleagues were in Choma on routine investigative operations.
“During the operations, I received information from the public that William Siamungu of Maseka village in Chief Singani’s area was in possession of firearms which he was using for poaching wildlife,” Mr Kapindula said.
He testified that he went to Maseka village around 02:00 hours and located Mr Siamungu’s house.
Mr Kapindula said he found Mr Siamungu at home and recovered two shotguns with two rounds of ammunition after searching the house.
When asked where he got the firearms, Siamungu told Mr Kapindula that the home-made gun was an inheritance from his grandfather while the shotgun was given to him by Mudimba.
“He [Siamungu] told me that the Bico shotgun serial number 13005052 was given to him by Headman Simeon Mudimba so that he can be using it to hunt animals and they share the kill,” Mr Kapindula said
Siamungu led ZAWA officers and State police to Mr Mudimba’s house and he admitted giving the firearm to Siamungu and that he did not have a firearm transfer certificate.
Mudimba and Siamungu were arrested.
The court set August 29 this year for Mudimba’s defence.

Posted by Kunda on August 5, 2014. Filed under CRIME. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.