A 43-year-old Ndola woman, facing a charge of possessing psychotropic substances, has been handed a 12-month suspended sentence after telling the court she resorted to selling marijuana to provide for her six-year-old daughter.
Her husband is currently imprisoned for the same offense.
Sharon Kalunga appeared before Magistrate Brian Simachela, charged with being in possession of suspected marijuana, a contravention of Zambian law.
According to court records, Kalunga was found with 99.2 grams (33 balls) of suspected marijuana at her home in the Mitengo area on June 4, 2025.
Kalunga pleaded guilty to the charge, explaining to the court that she found the “balls” in her home after her husband’s imprisonment for a similar offense.
She stated her intention was to sell them to feed her child.
Kalunga, who has a broken arm, told the court her injury prevented her from engaging in other forms of work to support her family.
She further informed the court that her six-year-old daughter is on medication, and she is the sole person aware of where to find the medication for both herself and her daughter, who is also on medication.
Kalunga disputed the quantity of marijuana, claiming there were 30 balls, not the 33 recorded by the court.
Magistrate Simachela sentenced Kalunga to 12 months of simple imprisonment but suspended the entire sentence.
“I have decided to suspend the sentence because you mentioned that you have a six-year-old child who is on medication and there is no one who is going to be giving her the medicine,” Magistrate Simachela stated.
He warned Kalunga that she must not engage in similar activities for the next 12 months.
“For the next 12 months you will not engage in such activities because when you are caught again, you will surely go to prison.”
By Noel Iyombwa
Kalemba June 18, 2025.
