http://www.postzambia.com/post....php?articleId=28996



2 ranch poachers gunned down
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sun 30 Sep. 2012, 08:50 CAT


TWO poachers have been shot dead in Mazabuka after they invaded two game ranches killing wild animals.

And the Drug Enforcement Commission in Livingstone has arrested a European national on his arrival from South Africa at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport after he was found with drugs.

Confirming the killing of the poachers which happened at two different places in Mazabuka on Thursday, Southern Province police commissioner Charity Katanga named the deceased as Aubrey Mweetwa who was shot at Ndimba Game Ranch around 20:00 hours and Son Chisonke who was shot in the leg and later died in hospital due to blood loss.

"We received two shooting incidents yesterday (Thursday) in Mazabuka; one happened in the early hours around 02:00 hours when Squares Game Ranch security guards were doing their security checks around the ranch.

In the process came across four poachers on bicycles, but they scampered into the bush and left the bicycles laden with game meat. One of the poachers opened fire at the guards and the guards retaliated and heard a scream but could not approach the bushes as it was dark," Katanga said.

Katanga said the guards later reported to Mazabuka Police who went to scene at 09:00 hours and found Chisonke who also named one of his colleagues.
"He was rushed to Mazabuka Hospital and placed under police guard but died later and his body is lying in Mazabuka Hospital Mortuary.

Later around 20:00 hours, police received another tip that poachers would pounce at Ndimba Ranch at Matalitilo Farm and they rushed to the scene and apprehended three suspects; Samuel Kalunda, Eliya Munene and Weston Habenzu, all of Nega-Nega turn off, while the fourth, Mweetwa, was shot dead," she said.

Katanga said police recovered two shotguns, a Greener and a Bikol with 26 bolls, two large knives and one kudu and one duiker carcass.

And Katanga said police were holding Lorenzo Benjamin, 32 a European national on behalf of the DEC after he was arrested on his arrival at the airport from South Africa on Thursday.

When contacted, DEC spokesperson Samuel Silomba said he had not yet received the report and would release the details as and when he received them.