By LUCY PHIRI
A GRADE eight pupil of a named school in Lusaka’s Chilenje area has been nabbed for trafficking in 0.84grams of Marijuana without any lawful authority.
The Juvenile has pleaded guilty to the charge and said she only uses the drug for smoking purposes.
Appearing at the Lusaka Magistrate court before magistrate Nthandose Chabala was a female juvenile accused of trafficking in Psychotropic substances of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Act no. 35 of 2021 of the laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on November 29, 2021 in Lusaka district jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown the juvenile did traffic in Marijuana namely 0.84grams without lawful authority.
Facts of the matter are that, on November 29, 2021 the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers had an operation in Kamwala South and where told that there was a female selling drugs at down town station, they went there and found the accused with the said drugs and apprehended her.
However, the Juvenile’s mother expressed disappointment over her daughter’s behavior as she pleaded with the court to help her sort out her issue.
‘’I am asking the court to help me because I am tired of this girl, I took her to Chainama, she ran away, took her to rehabilitation centers but still nothing has happened,’’ she said.
And in mitigation, the juvenile pleaded for leniency from the court saying she will never smoke again.
Magistrate Chabala however said the girl needed some time to reform and encouraged her to concentrate on school and to stay away from drugs.
“I will give her a second chance. Let her undergo counselling at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC),’’ magistrate said.
