By Namon Chitukuta

Mzuzu, November 14, Mana: Director General for Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) Mphatso Kawaye has expressed dissatisfaction with some of the sentences that courts of law imposed on convicts of drug cases. 

 Kawayi was speaking on Thursday in Mzuzu when he opened a two-day sensitization workshop on drug related crimes for magistrates which was organized by PMRA in conjunction with the Association of Magistrates (AMA).

 He said that most offenders are slapped with lenient sentences which can not deter those that are involved in drug related crimes from indulging in the vice.

“We therefore ask both the Malawi Police Services (MPS) prosecutors and magistrates mett deterrent penalties on such convicts so that drug related crimes are reduced,” Kawaye said.

He added that any illegal drug related act poses a threat to people’s health, hence the workshop involving the main players in addressing the malpractices.

Chairperson for Judicial Training Committee, Justice Violet Chipao said that there is need for collective understanding and enforcement of laws and regulations that govern pharmaceutical sector in the country.

“If sentences are not deterrent enough, the law loses its value as individuals who weigh the potential costs of the crime against the benefits of the crime before deciding to engage in criminal activity, hence they opt committing the crime as they see it beneficial,” Chipao said.,

It is expected that stakeholders will discuss various issues including risks associated with handling illegal drugs by the public, the difficulties the magistrates and courts encounter while handling drug related matters.

The workshop also provides a platform for promoting coordination among prosecutors, investigators and magistrates in handling drug related crimes.

PMRA has conducted a series of such workshops and the recent one was held in Lilongwe.