The Magistrate’s court in Kasama has sentenced a 19 year old man of Kasama District to nine months imprisonment with hard labour for housebreaking and theft.

Before Senior Resident Magistrate Willie Banda was Vincent Chanda, a peasant farmer from Sume Village in Chief Mwamba’s Chiefdom in Kasama District.

This is in a matter that came up for presentation of facts in which Chanda was charged with one count of housebreaking and theft contrary to Section 301(a) and 272 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offense were that on January 18, 2025, in Kasama, Chanda broke into and entered the house of Oscar Bwalya and stole three phone batteries, one memory card, and two Chitenge materials, all valued at K905 

When the matter came up for presentation of facts, Chanda pleaded guilty.

And in mitigation Chanda pleaded for for maximum leniency.

In passing judgement Senior Resident Magistrate Banda said he had noted the mitigation from Chanda but that offence he committed serious.

He warned Chanda against engaging in theft, warning that a repeat of such offense would attract a harsher punishment.

“Do not steal. Find something to do. Next time, I will sentence you to a harsher punishment,” the Magistrate warned.