In Search Of Justice For One, Mussa John
There were huge expectations that Mussa John could be released from jail on Wednesday for the infamous found in possession of 134 kilogram of Cannabis Sativa popularly known as Chamba in local language or ganja among the youths but, the High Court in Blantyre only reduced the eight-year prison sentence to three years.
The Court room was sent into dead silence throughout the entire reading of the judgment for the poor boy whom many are still failing to connect with the huge consignment of the illicit substance.
The media and some rights activists have keenly followed every step of the matter to the extent of some observers questioning more than a dozen times as to how exceptional and what is really wanted to be achieve in this Mussa John’s matter.
Some even have reached a point of asking whether or not found in possession of Indian hemp is no longer a crime in the country while some wants to know who really is the owner of that Cannabis Sativa who is not being mentioned at any point if indeed Mussa John is innocent.
Should we say Mussah John cannot revealed to anyone or either his mother the right owner of the Chamba who could walk his path and subsequently serve the prison sentences imposed on him?
“Actually, who owns that huge quantity of chamba the young man is persecuted of, should we say he cannot disclose the truth for the world to know?“ asked Mabuchi Banda of Area 23 when commenting on the Facebook chat groups, ‘Mzuzu City’.
However, in the recent times Malawians have witnessed some foreigners who were properly represented by legal firms in courts handed very light prison sentences in default of the fines of either K100 000 or K200 000, but that is not the case in Mussa John’s matter who could not afford engaging a lawyer despite answering charges in a trial involving chamba worthy millions of kwachas.
The little known Mussa John might be sacrificed just like that, but on the other hand the world should know that something is not adding up elsewhere between the rich and the poor when it comes to seek legal redress, am afraid this case needs a special tribunal if justice is to prevail to either set free the poor boy or either the court start using standard rules when passing sentences.
As it is, a 3 year jail term for a house keeper (Mussa John) is too harsh considering how the cannabis in question got its way into the city of Blantyre from wherever its possible plantations were, who paid the ganja farmer, and paid its transportation costs.
As soon as the revised prison sentence was pronounced, Mussa John’s mother broke into uncontrollable tears upon hearing thst her son will go back to Chichiri prison to start serving a three-year-jail term for being found with Cannabis, as to who could be in her son’s shoes, no one knows.
One of his voluntary lawyers, Chikondi Chijozi, says they will appeal the ruling which has slashed the initial jail term from eight years to three.
Meanwhile, young sympathizers including hip-hop artist, Fredokiss, and Bright Chiligo of Mikozi were at the court in solidarity with Mussah.
Joining in the fray of those calling for an immediate release of the troubled little soul is the Malawian gospel singer, Thocco Katimba who has called on President Lazarus Chakwera to pardon Mussa John who has now started serving a three-year jail term for possession of Chamba.
