The Chitipa First Grade Magistrate Court on Friday convicted and sentenced five men to pay fines for selling pesticides without licence in Chitipa District.

The court heard that the five, Alick Kaonga, 42, Goodson Phiri, 33, Gedion Ndimbwa, 35, Eneya Kalinga, 27, and Alex Mbotwa, 32, were found selling pesticides without licence at unregistered places at Chitipa Boma and Lufita Trading Centre in the district on July 5, 2023.

State Prosecutor Inspector Oscar Mwamtobe, told the court that some of the pesticides the suspects were selling were Shumba plus, DFFOS 480 Ec , snowsucces720 wp and Alutabs.

All the five suspects pleaded guilty to the offences charged against them and were convicted on their own plea of guilty.

During mitigation, the convicts asked for court leniency saying they are breadwinners of their families.

However, during submission, Inspector Mwamtobe prayed for a stiffer sentence saying though the convicts were first time offenders, the offences committed were serious.

First Grade Magistrate Billy Ngosi concurred with the state and ordered the convicts to pay a fine of K500,000.00 each or in default serve a three month jail term for selling pesticides without licence, which is contrary to section 17 (44) 1(b) of pesticides Act.

The court also ordered Kalinga and Mbotwa to pay an additional fine of K150,000.00 each or in default serve a three month jail term for selling pesticides at unauthorised place at Lufita trading in Chitipa district, which is contrary to section 25 (44) 4 (a) of pesticides Act.

Four of the convicted traders paid the fines and were released.