Wed, 23 Nov 2016 13:18:35 +0000 Amid growing criticism of its self-declared “war on cannabis”, the Drug Enforcement Commission has failed to answer allegations that it is targeting children and vulnerable Zambians for arrest on cannabis offenses. DEC has also failed to explain its mysterious “diversion programme”—which is meant to remove juveniles from the court process—and why commission prosecutors continue to remand and process juveniles in the adult criminal justice system contrary to the terms of the Juvenile Act. According to DEC’s own statistics, 265 children as young as 11 years old were arrested in 2015 for drug offenses, while 206 have been caged so far in 2016. In numerous cases, these children were picked up inside or near school grounds and many could be found wearing their school uniforms while sitting in remand prison. Sources within the justice system claim that children are routinely held for long periods while awaiting trial. Provided they “play […]
DEC cages children despite diversion programme. By David Julian Wightman
