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My Problems ‘Vanish’ When I Smoke marijuana – Livingstone Teen Tells Court
By CHOMBA MUSIKA
A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD whose dream is to become a policeman has told the Livingstone Magistrate’s Court that his problems vanish each time he smokes marijuana.
The juvenile, a grade nine pupil at a school in Livingstone, appeared before Magistrate Edsen Shanduba on Friday in a matter in which the boy and three other juveniles are facing one count trafficking in marijuana.
The offence is contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that on June 2, 2013, the juvenile, and three other boys aged 14, 16 and 17, jointly trafficked in 28 grammes of marijuana.
During his plea, the juvenile admitted trafficking in the drugs and told the court that each time he smoked the substance “all my problems immediately go away.”
The other three pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Facts before the court are that on June 3,2013, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Livingstone received a report from Linda police post that a male juvenile had been found with drugs suspected to be marijuana.
The drugs were wrapped in a khaki paper placed at the back seat of a Hiace minibus, where the juvenile was found, the facts state further.
A team of DEC officers rushed to the police station where they collected the suspected drugs and took them to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for laboratory tests.
The facts further state that the laboratory tests indicated that the drugs were marijuana weighing 28 grammes.
The juvenile was apprehended and charged. The facts read that the juvenile gave a free and voluntary reply admitting the offence and was arrested.
Asked whether the facts were correct, the juvenile responded in the affirmative.
And a social welfare officer who presented the juvenile’s report told the court that in the early hours of the fateful day, the boy bought the marijuana from Malota and later went into town to meet three of his friends.
“He met his friends, who are now his co-accused and they proceeded to one of the accomplice’s house,” Juvenile Inspector Songiso Kawana read.
Mr Kawana said the juveniles were cornered and arrested by police.
He said the juvenile admitted trafficking in marijuana and vowed never to smoke the illicit drug again.
In mitigation, the social welfare officer asked the court to be lenient with the juvenile because he has shown remorse.
He also recommended that the boy be put on probation so that he can complete his education and achieve his aspirations of becoming a police officer.
But Magistrate Shanduba wondered whether someone who smokes marijuana can make a good police officer.
“I don’t know what kind of policeman you will become…I am sure you would allow all police officers to start smoking marijuana,” Magistrate Shanduba, who put the juvenile on a 12-month absolute discharge, said.
And the State applied that the matter involving the three co-accused juveniles be discontinued and the court agreed.
The three juveniles, who were speechless with disbelief, simultaneously made a sign of the cross before walking to freedom.
Posted by
Umungulu
June 18, 2013 at 10:24 am
Mmmm!? Honestly do you need to take dobo to UTH for testing to prove it dobo? Waste of time and money. Ku lola po fye limo no kubaela. Nothing smells like it.
Mundia M
June 18, 2013 at 11:10 am
Iwe wine, you should go and become the chief tester since you seem conversant with imilolo ye benge!!! LOL
Captain
June 18, 2013 at 10:27 am
A policeman to be that chants marijuana LOL!!!!! This boy is a serious comedian. Well, let me not judge him as he might be having some role models within the system.
Bush Doctor
June 18, 2013 at 11:13 am
Legalize it!
Malcom X
June 18, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Any research into Marijuana’s pluses and minuses?
Billionaire
June 18, 2013 at 3:40 pm
THE BOY Should be councelled and motivated….hes probabbly having a tough time in other words he should be helped both mentally and physically…i rest my case
inzaghi
June 18, 2013 at 9:19 pm
It’s just in Zambia where this problem of marijuana seems to cause problems. Let me tell you, if you live in the diaspora that’s you can come to understand how this marijuana is held in very high regard to those who do it. I mean it’s legal now in the state of Washington, USA though at it’s still illegal at federal level but this goes to show that smoking marijuana is not harmful. I applaud the court for letting these boys walk to freedom as they would have just learnt bad manners in jail over smoking weed that cause no trouble. But alcohol has very serious health and mental problems and kills more people than does weed or pot smoking. Legalize it and see the results…you will be amazed and the turn of events. A lot of people will not do it thus reducing on crime and decongest jails that is otherwise funded by the tax payers.
inzaghi
June 18, 2013 at 9:24 pm
It’s just in Zambia where this problem of marijuana seems to cause lots of problems. Let me tell you, if you live in the diaspora that’s when you can come to understand how this marijuana is held in very high regard to those who do it. I mean it’s legal now in the state of Washington, USA though it’s still illegal at federal level but this goes to show that smoking marijuana is not harmful. I applaud the court for letting these boys walk to freedom as they would have just learnt bad manners in jail over smoking weed that cause no trouble. But alcohol has very serious health and mental problems and kills more people than does weed or pot smoking. Legalize it and see the results…you will be amazed at the turn of events. A lot of people will not do it thus reducing on crime and help to decongest prisons funded by the tax payers.