ZAMBIA
Another Zambian in child trafficking scam
Nation Malawi
Mchinji Magistrate’s Court last Saturday ordered a Zambian national to pay K50,000 fine or serve four years imprisonment for trafficking six children under 14 years of age to Zambia.
Another Zambian in child trafficking scam
Mchinji Magistrate’s Court last Saturday ordered a Zambian national to pay K50,000 fine or serve four years imprisonment for trafficking six children under 14 years of age to Zambia.
Officer-in-Charge for Mchinji Police Station John Nyondo said on Sunday the police caught Samora Phiri on Friday leading a group of six children and two elderly Malawians towards the border and arrested him on the spot.
“When he was asked what he was doing with the children he said he was taking them to his farm where they would work as peasants. The magistrate then ordered him to pay K50,000 or serve four years imprisonment but he paid on the spot,” said Nyondo.
He said Phiri is still being kept in police custody despite paying the fine as he is also facing another count of attempted kidnapping of the same children.
Last month another Zambian national was ordered by the same court to pay K24,000 fine for trafficking 15 children to Zambia.
Meanwhile, Eye of the Child, a non-governmental organisation that looks after rights of children and other vulnerable groups, has petitioned the High Court in Lilongwe to review the sentence that was meted out on the previous case and ensure that stiffer penalties are given to people who are involved in child trafficking.
In its petition, Eye of the Child also bemoans lack of clear legislation against child trafficking, saying this puts judges and magistrates in a dilemma when sentencing convicts.
“Our hope lies with the courts to hand out strong sentences which will deter perpetrators from engaging in this deplorable practice.
“The precepts of justice and fairness require that the law be interpreted in such a way that justice is done, and innocent children are protected from exploitation,” reads part of the petition.
Executive Director of the organisation, Maxwell Matewere, said on Sunday his organisation is not satisfied with “lenient sentences” that are given to people caught trafficking children. He said the petition was to ask the courts to give sentences that would deter people from the malpractice.