Ndola Man Blames Devil For Smoking Marijuana

By MUBANGA NONDO
A 26-YEAR-OLD man of Kabushi in Ndola, charged with trafficking in a psychotropic substance, has told the Ndola Magistrate’s Court that the devil tempted him to smoke marijuana.
Julius Chishimba of house number 236, told chief resident magistrate Paul Chisha last Thursday that he did not realise that smoking marijuana is wrong because he was being used by the devil.
Chishimba said when he took plea before Mr Chisha that he regretted listening to the devil because he was now in conflict with the law.
This is in a case in which Chishimba is indicted with trafficking in a psychotropic substance which is contrary to Section six of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Chapter 96 of the Laws of Zambia as read with Statutory Instrument number 119 of 1991.
Particulars of the offence are that Chishimba on December 29, last year, in Ndola, trafficked in 1.2 grammes of marijuana, a herbal product of cannabis sativa without lawful authority.
Chishimba told the court that he has stopped smoking marijuana since his incarceration
“Your honour, I did not know what I was doing. It was the devil who was using me to smoke marijuana but I have since stopped and I will never repeat what I did, because I have really suffered whilst in prison,” Chisha said.
But Mr Chisha sentenced Chishimba to six months imprisonment with hard labour.
“I find you guilty as charged and I convict you accordingly. I sentence you to six months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from January 8,” Mr Chisha said.