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Crackdown Fails to Stop Chibolya Marijuana Trade
YOUTHS from Lusaka’s Chibolya township are still defiant and have vowed to continue trading in marijuana several weeks after a crackdown by combined security forces .
On the night of May 29, a combined team of Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and state police raided the township, arresting hundreds of suspects and seizing large quantities of illegal drugs.
The midnight raid was swift and well planned, catching many residents of the township unawares.
By daybreak, hundreds of men and women were arrested for possession of illegal drugs, mostly cannabis, or for other illicit activities, including prostitution.
Police declared the area sanitised of drugs.
But a visit by The Post to Gaza Street in Chibolya yesterday revealed that drugs were still being sold openly in the area.
On entering the notorious drug den, police officers had to calm down the ‘traders’ in the area assuring them that they had only accompanied journalists that wanted to talk to them and experience the happenings first hand.
The traders seemed to have no qualms with the arrival of the police officers and The Post crew who were taken around by a local resident Gerald Musalale Alias Seven Spirits.
Musalale then ordered the mob of youths to cooperate and offered himself to take the visitors around for a tour.
Speaking on behalf of the mob high on drugs, Musalale told The Post crew that the trade in marijuana had become part of the lifestyle of the youths in Chibolya.
Musalale said in the absence of jobs, schools and recreational facilities in the compound, the youths would continue trading in these drugs.
He said the Drug Enforcement Commission was not formed to send people to prison but rehabilitate them, pointing out that he had been to a rehabilitation institution before.
“But rehabilitation is not about institutions and arrests, it’s about the mind of an individual,” he said.
He said Chibolya had graduates in various fields, but observed that these could not find employment and had therefore resorted to selling drugs.
“Chibolya deserves to be developed and currently, the compound lacks a hospital, schools and a police station which are vital,” he said.
He said marijuana was still available in the compound and being sold openly despite the crackdown, adding that the trend would continue.
Musalale then took the police and The Post to the various spots where marijuana was on display for sale and some residents were seen smoking openly.
After the visit, The Post and police officers left the traders to continue with their business.
For years, drug lords and thieves have ruled Chibolya with impunity, spreading terror among its residents who live in constant fear, and giving the township its bad name.
After the raid, people thought Chibolya belonged to the police.
Posted by Editor
on July 17, 2014. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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jungle kiswa
July 17, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Chibolya, even just the name is bad. It is better to demolish it and build a better township and rename it. Other wise the way it is will never change its image. But before pulling it down, there should be found another place to relocate the occupants and also compensate them for their ram shackles called houses. care must be taken when handling this as you will be dealing with the citizenry of Zambia who are just unfortunate not own riches due to bad governance on the part of various people in power.
CHALO LITAKO
July 18, 2014 at 7:31 am
“It is better to demolish it and build a better township and rename it” Alice in a wonderland or should I say Kinsha in The Jungle has no clue about the zambian economy.the Gov cant even afford to build a police post in that erea.
Kamushi
July 18, 2014 at 2:34 am
police u failed us,now those thugs r on a rampage stealing evrythn including used condoms
Fran
July 18, 2014 at 8:42 am
I strongly conquere with Chalo Litako that the Compound should be demolished Immediately.We should not have a state within a state.Please I urge the state to look at this matter in a broader perspective and re locate this people to a different area.If other people trading in marijauna are being dealt with by the state what is so special about this people.Please our able bodied government the right time is now.
Chief of Grief
July 18, 2014 at 10:05 am
Mbanje 4 life.Balekenifye abo!!Thats their livelyhood,kanshi bapeni inchito imwe ba mustanina!& for the whores,noti ukwikatako,mulemona kwati tu kala peteka nuku chinda besa fwebashaupa,pantu twiitwalakofye,betefye mulekaka na ifwe fwe ma PROSTITE ENTHUSIATS bafikala fyenu mwaunfwa teh…?
Jm
July 19, 2014 at 5:21 am
Planning is vital in everything we do. If the LCC who mandated to undertake development and change in the city cant plan for Chibolya properly, this will go on for years and Chibolya will continue to be a state within a state. Shame LCC
Positive Thinking
July 21, 2014 at 6:28 am
Funny how people come up with short sighted solutions. Demolishing Chibolya would simply lead to a spread of these individuals in other areas. The man taking them on tour said a lack of community facilities and jobs is the root cause. And it’s not just chibolya, a fluent or middle class neighborhoods like ka bu long a or Olympic extension have had youths who turned to drinking and even drugs because they had nothing to do after secondary school. A constructive plan and involvement of some ngo’s is the way forward.