A 46-year-old woman from Ntindi in Nakonde has been sentenced to 36 months with simple imprisonment for trafficking in 32.6 kilograms of Mirra, a substance that is illegal to sell in Zambia.
However, 13 months of the sentence have been suspended, and she will serve the remaining 23 months.
Hellen Muwowo,was arrested on March 27 at a security checkpoint in Kalungu while on a bus heading to Kapiri Mposhi.
Officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) intercepted her and found the illicit substance in her possession.
During her judgment on Tuesday afternoon before Nakonde Magistrate Cynthia Musaba, Ms Muwowo pleaded for leniency.
She cited her school-going children who depend on her care and promised not to engage in such acts again.
She stated that she had learned her lesson while in custody.
Magistrate Musaba considered her mitigatory factors, including being a first offender, but emphasized the need to deter other would-be offenders.
She stressed that the convict could have considered the consequences and the plight of her family before enganging in the act.
The sentence will run effective from the date of her arrest.
Chete FM