Drugs earn Ndola’s 32-year-old Peter Mkandawire 24 months jail time

By Chali Mulenga in Livingstone, Southern Province, Zambia

A 32-year-old general worker of Ndola has been sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment with hard labour for trafficking 103 kilograms of marijuana in Livingstone.

This is in a case where Peter Mkandawire, of Chifubu township in Ndola, who initially denied the charge of trafficking in psychotropic substances, later changed his plea to guilty after being in prison for 11 months.

Passing sentence, Livingstone Chief Resident Magistrate Kalifano Manyepa said the court had taken into account the mitigation and the manner in which the accused conducted himself during trial.

“I have considered your mitigation and the fact that you are a youthful offender who pleaded guilty and did not waste the court’s time,” magistrate Manyepa said.

The court heard that on March 27, 2025, information was received that a bus travelling from South Africa was carrying suspected illegal substances.

Acting on the tip-off, a team of Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers mounted a roadblock at Fallspark and diverted the bus to DEC offices in Livingstone.

A search of the bus trailer led to the discovery of three boxes wrapped in black plastic and sealed with yellow and green tape, containing suspected cannabis.

Mkandawire, who was responsible for the boxes, later offloaded a fourth box that was still in the trailer.

Laboratory analysis conducted at the University Teaching Hospital Laboratory confirmed the substance to be marijuana, weighing 103 kilogrammes and containing 1.23 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Investigations further revealed that the intended recipient of the consignment was Henry Mangisha, 32, of Matero township in Lusaka.

Mangisha was arrested at the Intercity Bus Terminus, but denied knowledge of the sender. The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) subsequently entered a nolle prosequi, leading to the withdrawal of charges against him.

In mitigation, Mkandawire pleaded for leniency.

“I am asking the court for forgiveness. I have learnt a lot while in custody and I will use the experience to educate others about the dangers of marijuana,” he said.

Magistrate Manyepa ordered that the seized marijuana be destroyed by DEC within 14 days in the presence of a senior court clerk.

Mkandawire was informed of his right to appeal within 14 days.