By Vincent Khonje
As the country gets tough on the new tobacco law, a 25 year old man is in police custody after he was allegedly found unlawfully buying tobacco in Kasungu.
The tobacco industry act 10 of 2019 outlaws tobacco vending in the country.
According to police details the man, Richman Kathumba, was caught by a team of officials from the Tobacco Commission (TC) on Thursday afternoon.
Kasungu Police Station Public Relations Officer Harry Namwaza has confirmed the arrest.
Namwaza said: “Kathumba was apprehended by TC officials on patrol and was later handed over to police, who are now investigating further before taking him to court.”
In an interview with TC’s Division Manager for Kasungu Alison Kambiri said, the team found the man with the tobacco and a weighing scale which made them suspicious since the new act prohibits selling of tobacco in an undisignated places.
“We have new laws governing the industry now and we went flat out sensitising people about these new regulations, however some of the people thought the commission was not strict enough on this,” said Kambili.
Kambili said the arrest of Kathumba will send a strong message to those with similar intentions to stop.
If found guilty, Kathumba faces a fine of MK10 million and a maximum sentence of five years.
Kathumba hails from Chinkhoma, Traditional Authority (T.A) Njombwa in the district.