WIDOW GETS 12 MONTHS FOR DAGGA

A widow was yesterday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour
after a Kitwe magistrate found her guilty of trafficking in 80 grammes of
marijuana.

Before magistrate Phobias Numbwa was Mary Phiri, 33, of house number 783
Buchi township who pleaded guilty to the charge.

Facts before the court were that on June 12, 2004, Drug Enforcement
Commission (DEC) officers who were on duty in Buchi township searched
Phiri's cabin after a tip-off from members of the public that she was
dealing in drugs.

The court heard that in her presence the DEC officers discovered some loose
green substance in a plastic container.

She was apprehended and taken to Riverside police station for detention.

The loose substance was then taken to Lusaka at the Foods and Drugs Control
laboratory for tests where it was confirmed to be marijuana.

In mitigation, Phiri pleaded to the court to be lenient with her saying she
was a widow with children who needed her care.

In another court, a 19-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to the charge of
theft.

Before magistrate Jacob Chibwe was Annie Manga-Manga of 18-Iwela street in
Nkana East who denied the charge.

Particulars of the offence were that on June 6, 2004, Manga-Manga stole one
cellphone valued at K500,000, from Precious Banda.

The matter was adjourned to July 12, 2004 for mention and August 8, 2004
for commencement of trial.