Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Green Party to legalise the cultivation of Marijuana for the export market

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A reggae fan smoking marijuana during the Bob Marley memorial concert in Lusaka west
A reggae fan smoking marijuana during the Bob Marley memorial concert in Lusaka west

GREEN Party president Peter Sinkamba says his party will legalise the cultivation of marijuana in Zambia so that the drug contributes to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

But the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has said it would be irresponsible to encourage drug abuse.

Mr Sinkamba says it is an “open secret” that some commercial farmers in Zambia are allegedly cultivating the herb and making a lot of profit from exporting it.

Speaking at a press conference in Livingstone on Saturday, Mr Sinkamba said there are a lot of people that are in prisons countrywide because of cultivating marijuana, but that this should not be so.

He said if his party forms Government, it will repeal the anti-narcotic laws in the country that promote the prohibition of drugs like marijuana.

He said the marijuana would be grown in restricted high security zones.

“We are going to ensure that the marijuana is exported to countries where the use is regulated and legalised,” Mr Sinkamba said.

But DEC public relations officer Theresa Katongo said that young people are already having serious problems associated with alcohol abuse and that there are several things that they can do to contribute to the country’s GDP.

“The law is clear on this and Mr Sinkamba should be the first person to condemn this because of the serious consequences associated with marijuana,” she said.

Mr Sinkamba also said his party would revive agriculture by promoting involvement of young people in the sector.

He said the party would empower youths with loans through a credit facility and would promote agriculture.

“We are going to scrap the Food Reserve Agency and will instead promote cooperative unions as the best way of maize marketing so that the farmers can be empowered more,” Mr Sinkamba said.

He said each citizen would be given 50 hectares of land when they attain the age of 16.

48 COMMENTS

    • Go ahead, there is a huge market for both medicinal and recreational use of this herb in the USA, Holland, Canada etc

    • …another political lier – Sinkamba a nonentity in zambian politics who’s targeting to grab kaponyas, rascals and louts from pathetic failures to come up with required number – 200 for presidential adoption process.

    • Bakamba iyi party ine yangufwisha best.I`m tired of going to chibolya in order to smoke in an environment without the fear of the police whenever am in Zambia.Green party eyabako !

  1. Surely, we could make a lot of money by exporting to Colarado and Amsterdam. I think I would support the proposal from the Green Party.

  2. This is awesome ! This party has just started winning me over.It is about time they legalized it.The bible says in genesis 1:29 “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” The herb is our meat bane.

    • `@Saulosi…How are you Big Man? Thank you for reciting that verse. This is a breath of fresh air on the political scene.

    • @upnd cadre from ngombe compound lsk…i`m fine bro,hope you are too.It is indeed a good break from politics.This is a very good proposal.This can work out well as long as there will be proper control.Alcohol which is legal has actually killed more people compared Marijuana.It is about time !!

  3. Actually Maryjane could be used for many things, it is a pity that most people in Zambia including DEC and Sinkamba only associate it to smoking. Maryjane can used to make many important products such as fuel, paper, rope, clothes, nets, lace, soap, plastics, paint, sealant, methanol, gasoline, fibre for fuel, lubricants, oil for lighting, oil for fuel, oil for lights, varnish, lotions, ointments etc. SO instead of even thinking of growing maryjane for export we could simply discover products begin to produce in the country. You can do much with Maryjane that is why capitalists world over have invested so much money to fight its usage.

  4. this is total nonsense. if God wanted you to smoke, he would have created a chimney on your head. the only beauty is that sinkamba and your green fimo fimo are just on paper making noise and dreaming to go to state house

  5. The Green party typifies the lack of freedom of African minds.

    In Africa we freely smoked dope – it was part of our cultural heritage. The white man imposes a law against Marijuana we also followed suite – we declared Marijuana illegal – a drug – without taking into account the cultural value it had.

    Now that the Americans are rebelling against the laws banning Marijuana, we also follow suit – we start saying let us lift the legal ban on Marijuana.

    When are we going to be mentally free and just do things because we believe it is the right thing for us? We just follow what the developed world thinks is right, this is beginning to be embarrassing.

  6. A crack-pot, to be sure! Next he will be legalising homosexuality and stuff like that tttTT

    t thatt

    • I don’t understand. A hater that loves the bible I suppose. Hating, especially when it has nothing to do with you, is not taught in the bible. Just because G-d guides us…at no point did he say you should hate people who do things you don’t agree with. Grow up.

  7. The Green Party is transforming itself into a subtropical deciduous tree which generates new green leaves in summer but defoliates its leaves in the dry season. The GREEN Party President Peter Sinkamba is strongly advised to read Professor Ben Eric van Wyk’s book titled “Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World”. This book will sober Mr. Sinkamba who is bent on attracting votes from dagga-smoking youths.

    Ideally we expect the Green Party to find a lasting solution that will help conserve our forests from the destructive activities of the Charcoal burners. The destruction of forests is reducing volumes of underground water that must be discharged to run our hydro-electric power stations.

    Sinkamba is better-off being a farmer than a desperate politician.

  8. Where are we going Zambia as a christian nation such things are not even supposed to be mention in this country..that’s why we need Christian president

    • All we need is a qualified Zambian for President! You will get your you Christian President in Heaven . Leave us alone. Zambia is a Republic. It is not a Kingdom of Christians.

    • Iwe….get off your horse and get back in your little box. Bushe ni fyonse referencing ku church. Open your mind….it’s just an idea. It seems as long as someone waves a bible then they are of good substance…..hence your utter ignorance.

  9. LOL – exporting is not the answer or even realistic. In places where marijuana is legal, it’s already produced on an industrial scale under very tight control! Not to mention, you can’t export to Colorado as someone says because Colorado isn’t a country! The US Government controls the borders and says the drug is illegal. So what, are we going to do, export to Uruguay? Why can’t they grow their own and how are we going to get it there w/o transiting other countries?

    Rather, legalize it locally and watch the tourists flock to Zambia! That would do far more to promote tourism than a national airline and might just create jobs for ordinary people and raise tax money as well. Else, calling for exports just makes Peter Sinkamba sound….. well…. stoned.

  10. BUT I WONDER WHY WE HAVE SCHOOLS IN ZAMBIA,PIPO BEHAVE LIKE NEVER-WENT- TO -SCHOOL PIPO.HOW CAN WE DIALOGUE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES IF WE SMOKE THIS INTOXICATING AND PERNICIOUS HALUCINOGEN.DOES IT MEAN THAT WE REVIVE STANDARD LEARNING SYSTEM IN ZAMBIA SO THAT PIPO CA BE COMPLETING THEIR EDUCATIN IN STANDARD 6 OR WHAT.PLIZ ZAMBIANS SHINE YOUR EYES HEEEEEEEEEEE YOU ARE DIMOLISHING THE POSTERITY AND THE UPBRINGING OF THE YOUNGONES AND DONT JUST SAY THINGS THAT YOU CA FAIL EVEN TO GIVE AN ADVANTAGE OF THEM BUT ONLY NUMBERLESS DRAWBACKS.IF YOU HAVE NO KNOLEDGE OF DRIVING THE PIPO OR BEING A LEADER BETTER YOU DONT COME UP WITH A PARTY COZ YOU ARE JUST WASTING COUNTRY`S RESOURCES TO PRINT YOUR NAME DURING ELECTION WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU CANT ACHIEVE ANYTHING CONTRIBUTING TO THE COUNTRY.

    • We have schools but iwe mungongo couldn`t take the opportunity to learn that it is uncouth to type with caps lock on.Wechinagwa wei

  11. Am in! This is not just for medicinal purposes, it will also increase the number of tourisst flocking to Zambia for they will not only come for the game parks, but feeling good while toouring that great nation of mother Zambia, am so in!
    By the way, did I mention we might an increase highly interlligent students in the entire country.

  12. I welcome this.Every year I travel to Amsterdam or Copenhagen to smoke marijuana.It would be nice if Zambia legalized it.Lets do this bane !

  13. I am already preparing my pot for ganja,tukalabaila pakuya ku rally ya green party.we wil be discussing national issues without fear

  14. Legalize! Why should we be given incentives by USA to hunt and lock up our citizens at great cost, meanwhile Americans can puff at will

  15. So the Green Party’s plan to diversify the economy centers around cultivating and exporting drugs? Just curious, after cultivation, where would Zambia legally export these drugs since there is a worldwide prohibition of drugs? This party should just disband to avoid further embarrassment.

    • Malawi exports(though illegally)weed.It is very popular in Amsterdam because it has a very high THC.They call it “Malawian gold.” Maybe Zambia can do the same.

    • @Halailishanya Humwine; so why stop there, why not “illegally” export cocaine or other high valued drugs? In fact, why not participate in the slave trade; I hear the Middle East is a lucrative market – Zambia will definitely become a net exporter (Viva Green Party). Please forgive me for the sarcasm, but this whole topic is laughable.

    • Well they could export to USA (Colorado) the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and Uruguay (the whole country)… Why not? Or at least stop arresting villagers for trying to feed their families

    • Well they could export to USA (Colorado) Holland (Amsterdam) and Uruguay (the whole country)… Why not? Or at least to stop arresting villagers

  16. In my opinion lets relook at the positives that we stand to gain from this crop. What has happenen in America, Canada and some european countries is that they have looked at the good side of this crop and decided to legalise its farming ,as well selling and consumption in some states. Mind you they are growing weed in green houses whereas here we have a much more favourable climate where this can now replace tobbacco farms since tabbacco is harmful but weed has proven medicinal value.
    The DEC act needs to be reviewed as the country may just earn more FOREX from exporting weed than copper.

  17. HEMP, it’s HEMP that you want to grow. The legalities of growing amd transporting a controlled and illegal substance from a landlocked country in viable quantities would be difficult. HEMP can introduce a whole manufacturing and processing economy. HEMP!!!!!

  18. New idea’s to increase the countries GDP should be encouraged.

    The green party might be way too high to remember that they are supposed to be exporting the chamba.

  19. The so called previleged people always want to criminalise the herb yet they consume it (natural failures). It has alot of properties apart from relaxing the mind of man. Nice smelling perfumes, soaps,ropes etc. Green Party count i en i…

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