College student gets one year jail sentence for theft

The Magistrate Court in Kasama has sentenced a 26-year-old student at Kafue College of health Sciences to one-year simple imprisonment for theft.

Before Magistrate Chapson Silwimba was Lameck Vwalika of Kaputa Village in Senior Chief Nsama’s Chiefdom in Nsama District.

This is in a matter that came up for presentation of facts in which Vwalika pleaded guilty to one count of theft contrary to section 272 of the penal code, Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that on March 5, 2026 Vawalika did steal two T-Shirts from Pep Stores valued at 984.90 Kwacha.

The court head that on the said day around 13:00 hours, Kelvin Zimba, A Branch Manager at pep stores in Kasama District, while on duty saw Vwalika trying on a T-Shirt.

Mr Zimba told the court that he then encouraged Vwalika to buy the T- Shirt as it fitted him well when he tried it on.

He said when Vwalika saw that he was attending to other customers, he consequently decided to conceal the T- Shirt by hiding it in his Jacket and proceeded to the exit of the shop without paying for it.

Zimba then shouted for help while chasing the now covict, and eventually apprehended him.

Vwalika was then searched, and was found with two T- Shirts concealed in the jacket and was later taken to kasama police station.

Mr Zimba told the court that at the police station he reported the matter on behalf of Pep Stores Zambia, kasama Branch.

Kasama Police Station Officer, Detective Constable Katulo, investigated the matter and brought to book the accused person,

The recovered two T-Shirts were left at Kasama police station to be used as exhibit.

In mitigation Vwalika pleaded with court for leniency saying he was a student who was just on attachment in Kasama and due to complete school in six months’ time.

He expressed remorse, warning that imprisonment could derail his completion of school.

He said he regretted his actions and that if jailed, he may miss out on completing school.

In passing judgement, Magistrate Chapson Silwimba said he had considered all what he said in mitigation from the convict.

He told the convict that it was shameful for a student to be involved in such activities and wondered how if youths like him were involved such activities will take up the leadership mantal.

He then sentenced Vwalika to one-year simple imprisonment but suspended it two years.

Migastrate Silwimba further ordered that the stolen T-shirts be forfeited to Kasama PEP stores.