The Chisamba Magistrate Court sentenced two people to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour but suspended to one year trafficking 12 grams of marijuana.
Resident Magistrate Susan Magalashi convicted Luna Sichone, 27, and Yona Phiri, 32, both of Ten Miles area in Chisamba District following their guilty plea.
Invoking Section 39 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 2021, Magistrate Magalashi convicted the individuals but suspended their prison term.
Sichone and Phiri jointly faced one count of trafficking in 12 grams of marijuana, contrary to Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 35 of 2021, read together with Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 119 of 1995 of the Laws of Zambia.
Police allege that on May 23, 2026, Sichone and Phiri jointly trafficked in 12 grams of marijuana without lawful authority.
Acting on intelligence, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) personnel from Kabwe raided the accused’s residence and recovered a large sachet and a sizable ball of marijuana, which led to the immediate arrest of the two suspects.
“On 23 May 2026, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers based in Kabwe conducted an operation at Ten Miles area after they received intelligence information,” Facts read in part.
Magistrate Magalashi convicted each of the accused following their guilty plea and admission of facts.
Sichone and Phiri asked the court for a second chance, adding that sending them to jail would cause their innocent families to suffer.
“It is illegal in our country to possess marijuana and warrants a minimum mandatory sentence of one year up to a maximum sentence of 25-years,” Magistrate Magalashi reminded the duo.
Delivering her judgement, Magistrate Magalashi handed each of the accused a 12-month prison sentence with hard labour, but suspended it to one year.
Magistrate Magalashi suspended the sentences on condition that the convicts maintain good behaviour and should not commit similar offences during their probation.
She warned the convicts that reoffending during their probation would trigger their original jail terms plus an additional ten years behind bars.
Magistrate Magalashi directed DEC officers to destroy the impounded cannabis before the clerk of court.
