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The Nchelenge magistrate court in Luapula Province has sent four men to prison with hard labour for various criminal offences.
Magistrate Seliya Kanunka has sentenced 41-year-old Anthony Mwila Chipasha of Dyson Village and Peter Musonda, aged 35, of Chandwe village both of Kambwali’s chiefdom to five years imprisonment for trafficking in psychotropic substances.
Magistrate Kanunka has also sentenced Cowen Kabwita, aged 41, of Chandwe village in the same chiefdom, as a first offender to two years imprisonment with hard labour for a similar offence.
The offence is contrary to Section 6 of the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Act number 96 of the Laws of Zambia, as read with the statutory instrument number 119 of 1995.
For Chipasha the particulars of the offence were that on November 11, 2013, in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province of the Republic of Zambia did traffic in 1.2 grams of Sativa Cannabis.
In passing judgment magistrate Kanunka said from the previous court records Chipasha was convicted for the similar offence and sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.
“This clearly shows that the accused is non-repentant and I sentence him to five years imprisonment with hard labour,” she said.
In respect of Peter Musonda, particulars of the offence were that on November 25, 2013, in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province of the Republic of Zambia did traffic in 132 grams of cannabis sativa.
“Upon your own admission of the offence, I find you guilty and send you to jail for five years with hard labour,” magistrate Kanunka said.
Magistrate Kanunka observed that the accused was not a first offender and was previously convicted to the fine of K250 or three months in default with hard labour for a similar offence and has not shown any remorse.
Earlier, Musonda admitted the charge saying he was using the drug as medicine.
In respect of Kabwita, particulars of the offence were that on November 25, 2013 in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province of the Republic of Zambia did traffic in over 1kg of sativa cannabis without lawful authority.
“As a first offender I can only hope that you have learnt your lessons that crime does not pay and I sentence you to two years imprisonment with hard labour,” magistrate Kanunka said.
The same magistrate court sentenced Guardwell Chiyambi, aged 22, of Malulu village in chief Kambwali’s chiefdom to two years imprisonment with hard labour for burglary and theft.
Chiyambi stood before magistrate Kanunka charged with the offence of burglary and theft contrary to section 301 (a) and 265 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
The particulars of the offence were that Chiyambi on November 7, 2013, in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province did break and enter the dwelling house of Fanwell Munkombwe Kaputo with intent to steal and did steal therein five cell phones valued at K1, 350.00 the property of Kaputo.
Magistrate Kanunka noted that the accused was a first offender who had readily admitted the charge thereby not wasting the court’s time.
However, she said though the accused deserved some leniency, he could not go scot free and that she was sending him to jail for two years with hard labour.
She also jailed 19-year-old Martin Mwansa of Kabulo village also of chief Kambwali’s area to two years and six months imprisonment with hard labour for theft.
The charge is contrary to section 265(1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that on unknown date but between 4th and 5th January, 2013, in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province of the Republic of Zambia did steal two window frames valued at K1, 600.00 property of Mwape Chilombo.
Ms Kanunka took the recognizant of the fact that Mwansa was a first offender and deserved leniency and sentenced him to two years and six months imprisonment with hard labour.
All the cases are with effect from the date of sentencing.
