Neighbourhood Watch chair nabbed for drug trafficking

THE Chipata Magistrate Court has heard how the Neighbourhood Watch Committee Chairman of Nabvutika Compound Dauzeni Mwanza was arrested for trafficking in cannabis.Mwanza appeared before Principal Resident Magistrate Humphrey Chitalu charged with one count of trafficking in psychotropic substances.Particulars of the offence are that Mwanza on 11 August 2020, in Chipata was found in possession of psychotropic substances namely 2.7 kilogrammes of marijuana and 5 balls wrapped on assorted papers without lawful authority.The prosecutions witness in the matter Inspector Likukela Mbangweta told the court that as a police officer, he was asked to accompany DEC officers to Nabvutika compound where they carried out an operation.He told the court that Mwanza was apprehended from his makeshift stand at Nabvutika market where he was selling different types of merchandise after being found in possession of suspected cannabis.But Mwanza, who is represented by Counsel John Phiri of JMP Associates denied the charge and his lawyer argued that his arrest was a pre-conceived as other people that were with him in the market were not arrested along with him.Counsel Phiri asked if the officers searched other people at the market apart from Mwanza of which Inspector Mbangweta responded that about 3 to 4 people were searched before arriving at Mwanza’s stand for a search.This, however, contradicted with Constable Moses Kamungo’s testimony who told the court that the officers went straight to Mwanza’s stand and did not search any other person in the market apart from Mwanza.And Constable Kamungo denied having seen DEC officers declaring what they had in the vehicle and in their pockets before Mwanza was arrested.The matter continues. BREEZEFMThe Sun