Dar es Salaam, July 7 -- THE Court of Appeal has sentenced five wildlife poachers to 20 years imprisonment or pay 2.3bn/- fine each, for unlawful possession of 18 pieces of elephant tusks.

The quintet were found guilty for unlawful possession of government trophies, worth 228,825,000/- without a permit from the Director of Wildlife.

Justices Stella Mugasha, Gerald Ndika and Mary Levira ruled against Mwinyi Kitalamba, Emmanuel Sindano, Juma Malyango, Lucas Hosea, alias Kayago and Lucas Mayai, alias Damson Mayai, the appellants, after dismissing their appeal, challenging the decision of the High Court.

"We conclude that the appeal lacks merit. Consequently, we uphold the appellants' respective convictions and order that the 20 years' imp...