The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a 43-year-old peasant farmer of Sinazongwe district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis weighing over three tonnes.
DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo said Leonard Mansanga, 43, a peasant farmer of Mulonga-Munene village in Sinazongwe district has been arrested for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 3.9 tonnes.
Ms. Katongo disclosed the development to ZANIS in a press statement in Lusaka today.
She said the commission has also arrested Christine Lufupa, 63, a peasant farmer of Mitec area in Solwezi district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 110 kilogrammes (kg).
She explained that the cannabis was intercropped with maize.
Meanwhile, the commission has arrested Benson Mukwakwa, 45, a peasant farmer of Nyambe village in Shibuyunji district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants which was also intercropped with maize weighing 39.3kg.
Others arrested are Venancio Phiri, 38, a peasant farmer of Chinyaku village in Chipata district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 11kg, Abraham Kaoma, 30, a peasant farmer of Kanyanta village in Kasama district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 21.5kg, Daniel Siulapwa, 39, a peasant farmer of Katipa village in Mbala district for trafficking in 3.7kg of cannabis and Fridah Chisanga, 29, a housewife of Ngungu-Bwacha compound in Kabwe district for trafficking in 2.72kg of cannabis.
And in the Copperbelt province, the commission has arrested and jointly charged Edward Mbembe, 34, a peasant farmer of Kwa Kabwe area in Lufwanyama district and Ackson Phiri, 37, a peasant farmer of the same area for trafficking in 8.2kg of cannabis.
Ms. Katongo said Kennedy Chola, 19, of old Mushili Township in Ndola was also arrested for trafficking in 9.1kg of cannabis.
She has since cautioned peasant farmers to desist from engaging in unlawful cultivation and trafficking of cannabis as this may affect the food security of the country.
Forgive him at least he has demonstrated a rare zeal in Zambia for success. Isnt this the infamous tomato formular we have massively been promoting lately in Zed?
weed, it is the only profitable agriculture venture under PF
To you my fellow Zambians, I’m sure I do not have to tell you that we here in Zambia have nothing better to do. In countries where they have something better to do they are busy developing medicinal strains of this cannabis plant.
and look,only peasant farmers are arrested,Lyato was set free
What has canabis to do with food security? You idiots.