By LUCY PHIRI
A MAN accused of trafficking in six Somalians and eight Ethiopians has been granted K20, 000 cash bail and his sureties to pay K100, 000 cash in case the accused breaches the law.
Magistrate Sandford Ngobola ruled that John Mukulama’s sureties must pay K100, 000 cash each in case he runs away as they will be the ones to face the consequences.
In this matter, Mukulama, aged 31 pleaded not guilty to Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Contrary to Section 3 (1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act No. 11 of 2018 of the Laws of Zambia and Harbouring a prohibited immigrant contrary to Section 46(1) (2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
Meanwhile, a Somalian narrated in the Lusaka magistrate court how an unknown person carried him and others in a closed truck and later confined them in a room in Lusaka’s 12-Miles area without their consent.
Mr. Kasim Ali Ahmed, 30, of Mogadishu told the court that an unknown man carried them from Somali to Zambia in a driver’s cabin.
He testified that it was in their will to leave their country because they were running away from war to seek peace in Zambia but it all ended in tears.
“We didn’t plan to be taken to a confined room but our plans were to visit Zambian government offices to seek help but instead the driver took us to his friend’s house at midnight where we were confined in one room and locked,” he said.
Mr. Ahmed said the accused person was the one who was taking care of them by giving them food as instructed by his boss.
“We used a bus from Somali to Kenya and we used a truck, we were put in the driver’s cabin. Those we were moving with made us cross the border without permits and we were not seen. We don’t have any travelling documents, we didn’t pay anything. We had pocket money and we only paid money for transport from Tanzania to Zambia. We paid $180 to the same driver who carried us,” he said.
It is alleged in count one that Mukulama, a Zambian on date unknown but between November 28, 2022 and December 9, 2022 in Lusaka, did harbour foreign nationals which included providing accommodation or lodging facilities.
It is alleged in count two that Mukulama on date unknown but between November 28, 2022 and December 9, 2022 in Lusaka did harbour foreign nationals which included providing accommodation or lodging facilities.
Trial continues on April 13, 2023.
