The Ndola High Court has sentenced a 19-year-old girl to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour, for smoking marijuana.

High Court Judge Yvonne Chembe sentenced Mutika Mungwila to a ten-year jail term as part of her reformation.

Mungwila was convicted by the Ndola Magistrate Court for trafficking in psychotropic substances and committed to the High Court for sentencing.

When the matter came up for sentencing, the Prosecutor from Legal Aid Board representing Mungwila, Kateule Chitupila told the court that her client was mentally unwell which resulted in smoking marijuana, adding that she needed to be examined by a medical doctor before being sentenced.

However, Judge Chembe did not entertain the application but instead dismissed it and described it as irregular, noting that the issue of Mungwila being insane did not arise during the trial at the lower court.

The court stressed that Mungwila was able to prosecute her defense during trial, and the mother who was the main witness did not bring out the issue.

Judge Chembe sentenced Mungwila to 10-years imprisonment with hard labour because she is a second offender.

She said Mungwila was convicted and sentenced to a month jail term in January this year, but upon release from prison, she was re-convicted with the same offence.

“It is sad that a girl like you cannot give up on marijuana, the law will help you reform. By the time you leave the correctional facility you will change. “Judge Chembe said.

The Patriotic Front has called on all stakeholders to heed President Edgar Lungu’s call on the nation to prepare and respond to Climate Change by way of mitigation and adaptation.

PF Media Director Sunday Chanda says Zambians must ensure climate change takes centre stage of dialogue as a nation.

Mr Chanda has reiterated that Climate change is a reality that now affects every region of the world and Zambia is no exception as confirmed by international organizations such as the United Nations.

He said it is important to note that Climate change is a threat that cuts across the different spheres of life to include human rights, dignity of persons, sustainable development, economic progression, food security, human development and the list is endless.

“United Nations Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet at opening of Human Rights Council warned that “The world has never seen a threat to human rights of this scope of climate change”, he added.

Mr Chanda has since called on climate change denialists such as the leader of the United Party for National Development Hakainde Hichilema to come back to their senses and realize that the threat Zambia is faced with goes beyond partisan politics or selfish ambitions.

He said President Lungu in his SONA referred to among others, nuclear energy, solar energy and wind energy as part of the energy mix being pursued by his administration.

“Let there be no doubt – Climate Change is real hence the need to diversify the energy sector in boosting Zambia’s economy. In this regard, we are calling on Members of Parliament to debate the State of the Nation Address (SONA) by taking off any partisan lenses and do what is best for Zambia”, he added.

Mr Chanda has also called on Members of Parliament to proactively consider facilitating the passing of the Comprehensive Nuclear Bill in Parliament in order to position Zambia as an energy hub to meet its domestic, industrial and export obligations.

He noted that Climate change put a threat the attainment of Zambia’s development goals such as the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and Vision 2030.

“For example, in 2015/16 Zambia experienced low power production due to prolonged drought. This caused a reduction of approximately 40% of the economic growth rate. In order to address the above challenge, His Excellency President Lungu announced on 18th September 2015, and 16th September 2016 that his administration during its term in office would pursue nuclear energy as part of the diversified sustainable energy mix to power Zambia’s economy. There is no doubt that the 2018/19 looks to be a repeat of 2015/16”, he said.

He reminded Zambians that a nuclear power plant generating an average of 1,000 megawatt (MW) generates approximately US$470 million in electricity sales and revenue for the nation.

And on nuclear energy. Mr Chanda said on the environmental impact, unlike oil, coal or natural gas, nuclear energy is one of the lowest carbon foot print technologies across the world. Nuclear power has very low lifetime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which makes the technology a potent climate change mitigation option.

“There is clarion call to Members of Parliament across the board to support Government in meeting of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards through ratifications of relevant treaties, conventions, protocols and agreements. Members of Parliament are also called upon to support Government in domesticating of the same IAEA standards through amendments of existing laws such as ZEMA Act, NCC Act and EIZ Act) with emphasis on safety and security”, Mr Chanda has said.

He said in a statement that mitigation and adaptation in light of climate change calls for the nation to pull together in finding lasting solutions, both in the short, medium and long term.

“Least we forget the impact and effect of the El-Nino on the 2015/2016 fiscal performance, an un budgeted US$39, 286, 245. 70 was spent on emergency power imports by the Treasury in 2015. This caused adverse effects on the Fiscal performance in 2015 as the El-Nino effect was not anticipated when drawing the 2015 budget”, he said.

Mr Chanda said while the PF appreciate that its very difficult for Zambia’s body politic to engage in substantive issues, for once everyone must join hands with Government in addressing a common threat – climate change.

South African Police in Gauteng Province have recovered the four Zambian trucks that were hijacked in that country in the early hours of Sunday.

Three of the trucks were found abandoned in the industrial area of Steeledale, about 15 kilometers from the hijacking scene in Wadeville, Germiston.

The other truck was also found abandoned around Dragon City area within Johannesburg.

According to the information made available to the Zambian Mission in Pretoria, the four trucks were recovered by South African Police in conjunction with a private vehicle tracking firm that the companies had engaged to provide tracking system for their trucks.

First Secretary for Press and Public Relations Naomi Nyawali says the locations of the abandoned trucks were discovered by following signals that were transmitted by trackers that were installed on the trucks.

Mrs Nyawali said the the trucks have since been parked at the South African Police FNB impounding yard in Soweto awaiting further investigations.

She said authorities indicated that no arrests have been made so far in connection with the matter but that all the vehicle engines they were carrying destined for reconditioning at some garages were missing.

Mrs Nyawali said the Mission was further informed that the trucks were found in good condition.

She said in a statement that all the four Zambian drivers that were victims of the hijacking are still in South Africa awaiting for further instructions.

National Democratic Congress President Chishimba Kambwili will this morning appear for questioning at the Drug Enforcement Commission in connection with allegations of drug trafficking involving President Edgar Lungu and Businessman Valden Findlay.

According to the NDC Media Team, Mr Kambwili will appear before the Drug Enforcement Commission at 09 00 hours at their Ridgeway Lusaka offices.

The opposition Leader was last week summoned by the Commission to provide any further information he may have in connection with the allegations he made that Valden Findlay was a wanted drug trafficker in the USA.

Last week, Mr Kambwili’s Lawyers advised the officers that their client was unwell, hence asked to reschedule the appointment.

Mr Kambwili is expected to appear for interrogation following his press briefing held last which in which he questioned Valden Vindlays trips accompanying the head of state.

The NDC has since asked its members and supporters to be at Ridgeway DEC offices by 08 00 hours and offer solidarity to the NDC leader.

Campaigners for the protection of Forest 27 have started the process of petitioning the International Criminal Court in the Hague and The Global Environmental Crimes Tribunal seeking sanctions against individuals that have obtained plots in the Forest Reserve.

It is believed that some influential figures such a Vice President Inonge Wina, Speaker Patrick Matibini, Lands Minister Jean Kapata and several others have shared plots in the Forest Reserve.

If the petition is successful, the perpetrators could face sanctions such as travel bans, seizure of ill gotten wealth and cash stashed away in foreign banks as is applicable under EU, UK, US Laws and Statutes in such cases.

According to the campaigners, the “Impunity, frenzy and massive Destruction, Degradation and Deforestation going on in Protected Lusaka East Local Forest Reserve No. 27, the source of the Chalimbana River, coupled with the discharge of raw sewage into the River itself by the illegal ZAF TwinPalm Housing Project, which is now negatively affecting the health and livelihoods in the Busoli Local Communities in the Lower Chalimbana River Basin-is an Inter-generational injustice that has now reached intolerable proportions.”

“The Destruction of Forest Reserve no 27 is now an Environmental and Human Rights Crime and qualifies to be reported as such to The Global Environmental Crimes Tribunal and International Criminal Court in the Hague for punitive action against the perpetrators.”

“We are now calling on all concerned Parties like Transparency International (TI), and Cooperating Partners to help us save this critical forest reserve. “Environmental Crime committed anywhere is an Environmental crime committed Everywhere. All things are Connected,” they said in a petition.

They said they will conduct and audit and compile a list of all individual and corporate beneficiaries who have illegally shared Plots in the Forest Reserve.

They said the list will be passed on to The ICC and some Cooperating Countries, so that sanctions are imposed on these “Miscreants.”

The campaigners have also demanded that The Commander of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) immediately Order the Withdrawal of ALL ZNS road construction equipment and Personnel now deployed in Forest Reserve 27 illegally being used in the destruction of the Reserve through building and road construction now under way there.

“ZNS is big doing “National Service” but serving private and not national interstate of the Forest Reserve.”