http://www.rnw.nl/africa/bulle...t-zambia-wildlife-hq



Record ivory heist at Zambia wildlife HQ
Published on 20 June 2012 - 2:48pm



Thieves stole three tonnes of ivory tusks from a strong room at the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), the biggest heist of its kind in the country, an official said Wednesday.

Two game scouts were arrested over the theft of the elephant tusks valued at 2 billion kwacha ($383,658), which the authorities believe occured last week at the ZAWA headquarters in Chilanga, near the capital Lusaka.

"During the routine checks in the strong-room ZAWA officers discovered that three tonnes of ivory valued at 2 billion kwacha have gone missing," ZAWA director general Edwin Matokwani told AFP.

"So far two game scouts have been arrested in connection with the theft," he said.

ZAWA is tasked with wildlife conservation and curbing poaching which is on the rise in the southern African country.

Two years ago Zambia and Tanzania failed to convince a UN Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) to allow them to hold one-off sales of their ivory stockpiles.
© ANP/AFP

geez

Three tonnes? Like two poor Game Scouts can just whip that out of the vaults in their pockets?

http://allafrica.com/stories/201207100212.html



Zambia: Two ZAWA Officers Face Ivory Theft Rap
10 July 2012


Two Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) police officers yesterday appeared in a Lusaka Magistrate's Court and denied stealing ivory valued at more than K3 billion.

They are also facing a charge of being in possession of property suspected to have been bought using proceeds of crime, which they have equally denied.

William Phiri, 28, of Kafue and Ebby Kahali, 27, of Chilanga, denied the offences before Senior Resident Magistrate Aridah Chulu.

In the first count, they are accused of breaking into a building and committing a felony.It is alleged that between August 20, 2011 and June 15 this year, the duo did break and enter a store room at ZAWA headquarters and stole 412 pieces of ivory valued at K3, 795, 140,000.

In count two, Phiri was slapped with a charge of being in possession of property suspected to have been bought using money from proceeds of crime.

Between August 20, 2011 and June 15 this year, Phiri is alleged to have had in his possession a motor vehicle, Toyota Regius, a Mazda Demio, a house on plot number 06/32 in Chilanga and assorted household goods.

In count three, Kahali is also charged with being in possession of property suspected or believed to have been bought using monies from proceeds of crime.

This is in respect of a Toyota Sprinter and also assorted groceries believed to be proceeds of crime.

Ms Chulu has since set August 22 and 23 this year as dates for commencement of trial.