The Lusaka Magistrate court has fined a Zimbabwean woman K130, 000 for illegally dealing in 12 boxes of Epiderm and 8 boxes of Betasol creams valued at an estimated cost of K39,000.
Facts of the matter are that on 31st July, 2024, Inspectors from the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) in collaboration with the Zambia Police Service, following a tip from the members of the public, arrested Sandra Magwa, aged 38 of Sunningdale, Harare, Zimbabwe, after she was found along Great East Road near Waterfalls Mall in Lusaka, offloading boxes of Epiderm and Betasol Creams with the intention to transport them to Zimbabwe without documentation.
ZAMRA Senior Public Relations Officer, Ludovic Mwape, told RCV News in a statement that the accused was arrested and charged with 2 counts.
“In count 1, she was charged with dealing in unregistered medicines and in count 2, failure to maintain records contrary to section 58 (2) (a) and (d) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No.3 of 2013”, said Mr. Mwape.
Mr. Mwape said the accused appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate Court on 2nd August 2024 for plea and she pleaded guilty to the charge in both counts and on 12th August 2024, she was sentenced, upon conviction, to pay a fine of K80,000 in count 1 and K50,000 in count 2 while in default of payments, serve a custodial sentence of 8 months imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ludovic said both Epiderm and Betasol creams are medicines containing corticosteroids used in the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the skin.
He has since warned all those involved in the unauthorized import, distribution, storage and sell of the products that failure to adhere to the set standards will result in offenders being prosecuted as this is to ensure the safety of the public from unauthorized medicines and allied substances.
Margaret Mwanza
