Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jun 2013
Source: Zambia Daily Mail (Zambia)
Copyright: 2013 Zambia Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5401
Author: Mubanga Nondo

'MARIJUANA WAS MEANT TO BE MEDICINE'

A 45-YEAR-OLD peasant farmer of Masaiti has told the Ndola 
Magistrate's Court that the marijuana which Drug Enforcement 
Commission (DEC) officers seized from his house, was meant to be used 
as medicine for his sick child.

This is in a case in which Henry Mumba is charged with trafficking in 
a psychotropic substance.

The offence is contrary to Section 6 of the Narcotic Drugs and 
Psychotropic Substance Act Chapter 96 of the Laws of Zambia, as read 
with Statutory Instrument number 119 of 1995.

When the matter came up for plea before Ndola magistrate Chitundu 
Chongo on Tuesday, Mumba admitted the charge.

Mumba, however, told the court that the cannabis was not meant for 
sale but was to be used as medicine for his sick child.

"The marijuana was found in my house but it was not for sale. I 
wanted to use it on my sick child because someone told me that it 
works well on the kind of illness my daughter has," Mumba said.

He also told the court that his neighbour reported him to the police 
because he had differed with him.

"I find you guilty upon your own admission of the offence and I will 
sentence you accordingly," Ms Chongo said.

She adjourned the case to July 9, 2013 for sentencing.

And in another case before the same court, a 26-year-old man of 
Chifubu in Ndola pleaded guilty to trafficking in 7.22 grammes of marijuana.

Particulars of the offence are that Jonathan Kunda on June 13, 2013 
in Ndola, did traffic in 7.22 grammes of marijuana, a product of 
cannabis sativa without lawful authority.

The offence is contrary to Section 6 of the Narcotic Drugs and 
Psychotropic Substance Act Chapter 96 of the Laws of Zambia.

When the matter came up for plea before Ms Chongo, Kunda told the 
court that the marijuana was found in his pocket.

"Since the accused has admitted freely and voluntarily that he had no 
right or authority to traffic in a psychotropic substance, the court 
has entered a plea of guilty. I will, therefore, sentence him 
accordingly," Ms Chongo said.

She adjourned the case to July 9, 2013 for sentencing.
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