By LUCY PHIRI
A 31-YEAR-OLD woman of Lilayi has admitted trafficking in 150grams of cocaine with no lawful authority.
Mercy Chiwala said she sells drugs and uses some as medicine. When the matter came up for commencement of trial on Friday before chief resident magistrate Davies Chibwili, Mercy Chiwala, 31, informed the court that she wanted to change her plea. Magistrate Chibwili read the charge to her and she pleaded guilty.Chiwala, 31, is jointly charged with Martha Chilumba, 32, both business women.Previously, when the court read the charges to them, both denied trafficking cocaine.
However, Martha Chilumba, 32, denied changing her plea saying she never trafficked drugs. The two are facing one count of drug trafficking and one count of Unlawful use of property contrary to the laws of Zambia. When the court asked what she wanted to do with the drug, Chiwala said she wanted to sell and use as medicine.
Chiwala also told the court that the vehicle was used to transport the drugs from one point to another was not hers and the owner did not give permission to use it. It is alleged that Chiwala and Chilumba on April 1, 2023 jointly and whilst acting together did traffic in 150g of cocaine with no lawful authority.
