SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
@SunZambian
A laden with 50 logs of illegally harvest rosewood timber commonly known as muzauli has been impounded in Mongu’s Kataba area by the forest department officials in conjunction with the Zambia police.
And Western province permanent secretary Sibanze Simuchoba, has warned that government would not tolerate the illegal cutting down of trees and trade of timber in the province.
In an interview, Mr Simuchoba confirmed that the truck loaded with timber worth K25, 000 was impounded in Kataba area on Namushekende-Nalikwanda Road during forestry patrols.
He said this was barely two days after government supplied the forest department in Mongu with two 4 by 4 Toyota land cruisers for forest patrols to smoothen its operations.
“The 50 logs of rosewood timber commonly known as muzauli worth about K25, 000 were impounded in Kataba area on the Namushekende-Nalikwanda Road during forestry patrols,
“But as government, we will not tolerate the illegal cutting down of trees and trade of timber in the province as this has a negative impact on the climate,” Mr Simuchoba said.
He praised the alert officers from the department and Zambia police for impounding the truck.
He said that despite timber transporters giving excuses of being hired, it was ideal that both the timber and the trucks were impounded and forfeited to government in the absence of legal documentation to deter would-be law breakers.
