KATIMA MULILO – The chief education officer, who was recently arrested for using a government vehicle to transport buffalo meat, was granted N$20 000 bail by a Katima Mulilo magistrate. 

Elvis Liwakala (46) made his first court appearance before magistrate Davy Kambinda this week, facing charges of poaching, possession and transporting game meat without a permit, and corruptly using office for gratification.

Although he was found with two buffalo carcasses at the time of his arrest, further investigations revealed that Liwakala had actual killed four buffalos, all valued at about N$120 000.

He was arrested at around 20h00 last Wednesday in the Masokotwani area in Sibbinda constituency while allegedly transporting two buffalo carcasses in a government vehicle. 

Morgan Saisai, the control warden for the Wildlife Protection Services division in Zambezi region said they had been pursuing Liwakala for some time before they eventually caught him red-handed. 

It is suspected that the buffalos were hunted down in the Lake Liambezi area.

Saisai also revealed that officials intercepted Liwakala at Zilitene and when they tried to stop him, he allegedly sped off, resulting in a high-speed chase until he was cornered and arrested at Masokotwani. 

Apart from carcasses, police confiscated two hunting rifles, a tent and a mobile phone. 

Kambinda postponed the case to 28 January 2025 to allow for further investigations. 

Cedric Mundia represented the State.