Fourteen Rastafarians have been arrested in Mchinji for protesting the arrest of fellow Rastafarians who were found cultivating cannabis sativa.
Mchinji police publicist Inspector Kaitano Lubrino said police on January 31 acted on a tip-off and arrested two members of the Rastafarian religion for cultivating Indian hemp in their respective gardens.
He further said the arrests did not go well with the Rastafarian folks who later in the next morning of February 1 went to the Police Unit to rescue their member.
“A commotion started as the grouping removed the police flag and replaced it with their Rastafarian flag at the Police Unit.
“This prompted the police from the parent station to beef up manpower to the Unit and in the process twelve irate people were arrested for the offence of misconduct at a police station,” said Lubrino.
The publicist further said one of the suspects identified as Ras Meshach Banda (52) who also act as the elder of the religious gathering in the area argued with the police that there is no problem using Chamba.
He further said using marijuana staff either through smoking, eating as relish or drinking as tea is their key for exaltations and sacrifice for Jah.
In Malawi, according to regulation 4 (a) of dangerous drugs as read with section 19 subsection 1 of Dangerous Drugs Act, it is an offence to cultivate or to be found in possession of cannabis sativa and this act provides a maximum penalty of K5 000 000 fine or 14 years imprisonment with hard labor if one is found guilty.
The suspects are expected to appear before court soon to answer charges of cultivating chamba and misconduct at a police station respectively.
The suspects are; Mishack Banda aged 52, Yohane Boniface, 25, Daniel Zulu, 21, Simioni Mwale aged 27, Zambika Masoadyera aged 25, Langizo Siliya aged 24, Chadza Phiri aged 23, Patrick Mmango aged 22, Gelesomo Chemili, 35, Kabungwe Mwale aged 35, Meshach John aged 24, Jonathan Sakale aged 22, John Biliati aged 20 and Mathews Sitolo.
pali nkhani pamenepo, za zii
rasta salakwira munthu , amangosuta ganja mutayeni
Police acted on tip off. That means ‘nsanje’ on national anthem still exist among us.
Amapempha unyolo amenewo
y removing national flag.thus the very big misconduct
Am selling Marijuana
14 Rastafarians arrested for misconduct and retaliation against police actions: “argued why police arrested their fellow friends over cultivation of Cannabis Sativa” (Chamba).
The police in Mchinji have arrested a total of fourteen Rastafarians for staging up misconducts at a police formation in retaliation against police actions for arresting their fellow friends over cultivation of Cannabis Sativa.
Acting on a tip-off, police officers from a month old established police unit at Guillime, on Wednesday January 31 arrested two members of the Rastafarian family for cultivating Indian hemp in their respective gardens. Their arrest did not go well with the Rastafarian folks as such next morning on February 1, a group of over 20 Rastas ganged-up to the Police Unit to rescue their members.
Uncontrollably a commotion started, the grouping went further and removed the police flag and instead they fluttered their Rastafarian flag up at the Police Unit. This prompted the police from the parent station to beef up manpower to the Unit and in the process twelve irate people were arrested for the offence of misconduct at a police station.
One of the suspects who also act as the elder (Bishop) of this religious gathering in the area identified as Ras Meshach Banda (52) of Chabwera Village, T/A Mlonyeni in Mchinji, leading Navikali Nyiabing House (a Local Rastafarian assembly), argued with Mchinji Police Station that by using the marijuana staff either through smocking, eating as relish or drinking as tea but their stand and belief is that this weed is their key for exaltations and sacrifice for Jah (short form for Jehovah).
In Malawi, according to regulation 4 (a) of dangerous drugs as read with section 19 subsection 1 of dangerous drugs act, it is an offence to Cultivate or being Found in Possession of Cannabis Sativa without License and this act provides a maximum penalty of K5 000 000.00 fine or 14 years imprisonment with hard labor if one is found guilty.
Beside cultivation and possession of Cannabis sativa without licence, the Rastas: Mishack Banda (52), Yohane Boniface (25), Daniel Zulu (21), Simioni Mwale (27), Zambika Masoadyera (25), Langizo Siliya (24), Chadza Phiri (23), Patrick Mmango (22), Gelesomo Chemili (35), Kabungwe Mwale (35), Meshach John (24), Jonathan Sakale (22), John Biliati (20) and Mathews Sitolo (20) will appear before Mchinji Magistrate’s court soon to answer charges of misconduct at a police station respectively.
INSP. KAITANO LUBRINO (PRO)
MCHINJI POLICE STATION
The Penal Code Versus The Constitution Of The Republic Of Malawi . Kkkkk
Being rastas asiyeni..zakudya zawo zimenezo..aliyense akudziwa kale
Legalise it
Going through the details of this story, I have established that the police officers are the ones who made a mistake. Why arresting an innocent man? The man just cultivated but he did not created it himself.
Who knows not that cannabis is the the rasta’s food?
Hahahahaha Maganja man fighting for their rights.
Hahahaha Chamba
Kkkk
SET THEM FREE