The New Delhi court has acquitted three Zambian women, who were arrested in India seven years ago on charges of drug-trafficking.
Sepiso Lubinda 51, Stella Mwanza 47, and Maureen Banda 37, all of Lusaka, were arrested in June 2002 as they were about to board a flight to Lusaka from New Delhi.
The trio were acquitted after it was established that there was no evidence to convict them on drug-trafficking charges.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by First Secretary for press Zambian Commissioner to India Bwalya Nondo in Lusaka today.
Mr. Nondo explains in the statement that this was when Acting Zambian High Commissioner to India, Brig. Gen. Allan Kalebuka and other officials from the Zambian High commission in New Delhi visited the trio and donated some money for their up keep.
Brig Gen. Kalebuka confirmed that the incarcerated women were in good health and did not complain of any ill-treatment during their term.
He however reiterated his warning to Zambians especially women who travel to the Asian sub-continent for business, to guard against associating with people who may use them for ulterior motives.
The Acting Zambian High Commissioner to India said the trio are staying at a charitable home awaiting administrative clearance before flying back to Zambia.
Drug-trafficking in India carries a maximum of ten years imprisonment on conviction.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Allan Kalebuka has called on all Zambians coming to India to make their presence known to the Zambian embassy.
He noted that this will ensure that the mission extends necessary Consular services to Zambian citizens who come especially for specialized treatment in India.
Brig. Gen. Allan Kalebuka said, it should be noted that, the mission’s obligation to extend consular duties, is not only to VIP patients, but to ordinary Zambians as well.
He said Zambians should not only approach the Mission when they are in distress.
Indian is increasingly becoming the world’s preferred medical tourism destination because of its competitive treatment costs in highly specialized hospitals.
ZANIS/
Katusheni bane nokwamba chipyachipya Lesa amupale apaku. Happy New Year!
Mwapusukeni, learn from your mistakes, happy news year
who will compersate for the wasted years
A Happy New Year for them indeed.They are very lucky to get acquitted – just the other day, an Indian born British citizen was executed in China on drug trafficking charges.
They have been acquitted what about compensation? Please Women immediately you land home sue the Indian government through its embassy so that you get paid for your 8 years of being unlawfully arrested and prosecuted. This is a foolish culture by Some countries in the world who think that being black is being connected to illegal business.
This sad case once again highlights the dangers and risks involved in illegal drug trafficking. Is it really worth it? These days we hear of Zambians being caught with drugs and convicted in far off lands. In some parts of the world this offence carries the death penalty and the wisest thing to do is to avoid the temptation.
TYPICAL ZAMBIAN reaction, apologizing when you are the one who is wronged! The women have been acquitted, translation they are innocent, what about the seven years they spent in Indian Prisons? Some foreigner a couple of months ago wrote about how Zambians are so “meek” to a fault, and there was an uproar, it is this kind of behavior which makes us look foolish! Reminds me of a guy in school who was stepped on by a bully, the meek guy pleaded with the bully to remove his foot saying “bakamba” I am sorry I occidentally put my foot under yours!
What’s gone wrong with our Zambian women? Just yesterday on radio news it was reported by the Home Affairs minister that 15 Zambians in India, China and Singapore, 14 of them women, are on death row for drug trafficking. This show-off competition in Lusaka is leading people to commit all sorts of crimes. Please earn your money thru hard work and not short cuts.
These women shud sue or may be they made a plea to be let out but if not they shud sue so that they get paid for the time spent in Indian jail, what a waste of their time and family pain caused during the 8yrs
whats wrong with indians?..this might be racism, indians are treated good in zambia why should they do this to our people?
Crime doesn’t pay, 7 years wasted for nothing.
I am extremely disapointed with the responses here. These women were found innocent and yet the majority of responses are apologetic,including the ambassador!Unfukingbelievable!We should be angry right now and demand compensation.These women were wrongly incarcerated!
they should sue for wrongful confinement/detention etc…that’s money for life right there!
The chaps they deserved it. it is not pardoning per say, 7 years is a prison service itself, these guyz where not on court bail. they were inside prison whilst being tried. let it be a lesson to others too in the same business.
Nine Chale, correction please, the British national was born in Pakistan. He was executed without proper justice by the Chinese.
Akapondo waba itole!!! meanwhile this is good news
Good lesson you guys stop this dirty business