Zambian authorities have arrested 20 South Africans for illegal possession of poaching equipment, a state-owned daily reported Wednesday.
The group was found camped at a Zambian game park with equipment for capturing animals without authority and were arrested on October 5 along with a Zambian national.
They appeared for the first time in court on Tuesday to answer charges of "unlawfully possession of animal-capturing equipment", the government-owned Times of Zambia reported.
They all pleaded not guilty before magistrate Edwin Zulu.
According to the report, the South Africans were found with 25 capture nets, 14 rolls of wired nets and other items without a written permit from Zambian Wildlife Authority.
The South Africans had applied for a permit to capture 100 sable antelopes but they proceeded to Zambia's Kafue National Park where they camped, before they received clearance.
Zambian Tourism Minister Anoshi Chipawa is expected to testify against the South Africans when the trial resumes on November 28 -- LUSAKA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
