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By Isaac Zulu in Kapiri Mposhi
TWO Kapiri Mposhi commercial sex workers have been sentenced to five days simple imprisonment for idle and disorderly conduct and soliciting for immoral purpose at a public place.
And ten other commercial sex workers have pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting for immoral purpose at public places.
Before Kapiri Mposhi magistrate Ackson Mumba were Jane Chewe, 24, a school girl, Abigail Phiri, 23, who were indicted for soliciting for immoral purpose at a public place, a named guest house.
The case is contrary to Section 178 (g) Chapters 37 of the Laws of Zambia.
The duo was arrested by Zambia Police officers over the weekend at the said guest house.
The duo readily pleaded guilty to the offence and begged the court to exercise lenience on them, saying that they would not engage in prostitution again.
Chewe asked for lenience saying she had learnt a lesson because she had not been taking her Anti Retroviral (ARV) medication during the six days that she had been in police custody.
And Phiri, a grade ten pupil at a named school, said she regretted having been involved in prostitution because she had stayed away from school from the time she was arrested.
In passing judgment, magistrate Mumba noted that the two were first offenders and did not waste the court’s time as they readily pleaded guilty to the offence.
He, however, noted that prostitution and immorality were very prevalent in Kapiri Mposhi, stating that the accused ought to realize the dangers of engaging in illicit activities.
Magistrate Mumba said the accused should appreciate the value of their bodies by avoiding prostitution and immoral behaviour which was bringing about increased cases of HIV and AIDS in the area.
And by press time, trial date in the matter in which 10 other women have pleaded not guilty to the charges of idle and disorderly conduct and soliciting for immoral purpose at public places had not been set.
The women were arrested at various guest houses in Kapiri Mposhi over the weekend.
The accused continue to be remanded in police custody as the trial magistrate had reserved ruling on the matter with regards to the accused’s bail application.
