The Zambia Agency for Persons with Disability (ZAPD) has expressed deep sadness at the arrest of an elderly blind man for alleged drug trafficking.
Commenting on the arrest of a 72 year old man by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) few days ago, ZAPD Director General, Charles Mwape said it was unfortunate that an elderly blind man was found with drugs and arrested.
Dr. Mwape told ZANIS that it was saddening that another blind person has been arrested for drug trafficking in less than 12 months.
“As an agency, we have received the news about the blind man who was found with drugs with sadness and it is very unfortunate,” he said.
He has since appealed to people with disability to refuse to be used by drug dealers and traffickers.
Dr. Mwape said the law of the land was applied firmly on both the physically challenged people and those without disability hence the need to avoid vices that can land them into trouble.
He lamented that drug dealers have found it convenient to use people with disability in abetting vices such as drug trafficking and corruption simply because Zambians generally respected disabled people.
He has further urged disabled people to blow the whistle whenever they are approached to participate into illegal activities.
Dr. Mwape said ZAPD was ready to partner with the Drug Enforcement Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commissions and other law enforcement agencies to fight all vices the retard development in the country.
“ZADP is looking forward to a time when disabled people will become agents of fighting corruption and not of drug dealing and corruption,” he said.
Yesterday, the DEC arrested a 72 year old blind man of Kapena village in chief Lukwesa’s area in Mwense district of Luapula province.
The man, only identified as Chama, is alleged to have been trafficking in 35.3 kilograms of cannabis, of which 26 rolls were wrapped in banana leaves and 48 balls of loose cannabis concealed in a travelling bag.
DEC believes that the old man had been perpetually used by other people to sell cannabis for them.
ZANIS
With high un-employment it is difficult for people with disabilities to find a job. In Zambia we don’t have a social security system let alone retirement plans people can live on when they are not able to work. I can imagine how hard it is for the elderly and disabled to make ends meet. With high deaths due to Aids among people in the ages 20-40, the elderly can’t rely on their offspring to take care of them when they are old. I think people in that position rather have a meal than obey the law.
I say legalize all drugs, bring back industrial hemp so people can make clothes and other products from them. Also, hemp seeds is not only edible but highly nutricious. And everything made out of hemp is biodegradable.
B4 u arrest u shud kno the root cause, and maybe start by arresting the root cause-poverty, unemployment, disease, hopelessness, etc.
#1,2,&3, I totally agree with you all.
And just out of curiousity, in Zambia, is there any distinction between, trafficking and possession? because I have noticed that even the the end user of the drug falls in the “trafficking” category.
Am I the only on failing to get onto the POST website? Talk to me people
#5, the post guys are still treating their weekend hung overs. that’s Zed my friend.
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