A 42 year old peasant farmer of Katuta chiefdom in Mwense district of Luapula province has been sentenced to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful cultivation of psychotropic substance.
Before principle resident magistrate Yvonne Nalomba was Miyambo Katopwa of Lubebe village who was charged for unlawful cultivation of marijuana contrary to section 9 of the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substance chapter 96 of the laws of Zambia.
Facts before the courts were that Katopwa on March 5, 2015 cultivated 528 kilogrammes of marijuana, a herbal product of cannabis without lawful authority.
And in count two, particulars were that Katopwa on March 5, 2015 trafficked in 180 Kilogrammes of marijuana contrary to section 6 chapter 96 of the laws of Zambia.
Katopwa admitted the charge for count one but denied the charge for count two.
In mitigation, Katopwa requested for lenience as he was the first offender and that he was married with children who are still at school.
However, Principle Resident Magistrate Nalomba said though he was the first offender and readily admitted the charge, the quantity of marijuana was too much.
She then sentenced him to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour, effective the date of arrest in order to deter others from committing a similar offence.
And for count two, Magistrate Nalomba re-allocated the case to Magistrate Moses Mulenga for continued trial.
Release dem farmer-man…
This is misprison . . . 180 kg of grade A ? Please Green Party write petition to edgar to free all guys for joint related cases. . . .
Why is news of chamba smokers and traders being arrested becoming so common these days? Especially given the fact that as we all know ka Chagwa Lungu is a big smoker of the weed himself.
ha!
Just ask Chief Mpezeni ….he loves the holy weed like most Easterners do. It helps to keep guys wise and focused…..Sata used to smoke with FTJ … VJ can attest to this
Why do we only hear about the ganja farmer being arrested, yet a far more dangerous drug, crack cocaina, is ravaging our youths and is really available?.
Nangu mubakake tatwakaleke ukubaila