• The five suspects were arrested during a surveillance routine inspection.
• The inspection was undertaken by ZAMRA inspectors, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Commission Officers.
• The Authority wishes to reiterate its appeal to members of the public to refrain from illegal operation.

Zambia Medicines and Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) discloses that five people of Senanga district in Western Province have been arrested for operating Agro-veterinary shops without permits issued by the Authority.

ZAMRA Public Relations Officer Ludovic Mwape said the five suspects were arrested during a surveillance routine inspection directed towards curbing sale of medicines and allied substances in unregistered outlets.

Mr. Mwape noted that the inspection was undertaken by ZAMRA inspectors, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Commission Officers in Senanga district on 24th August, 2022.

He however indicated that the suspects who were arrested for operating Agro-veterinary shops without permits issued by the Authority contrary to Section 14(1) (a) and (b) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act (No. 3) of 2013 were released on police bond and will appear in court soon.

Following this development, Mr. Mwape reiterated the authority’s appeal to members of the public to refrain from illegal operation of drug stores and Agro-veterinary shops.

He said failure by members of the Public to refrain from Illegal operations, risks them prosecution in accordance with provisions of the law.

“The Authority wishes to reiterate its appeal to members of the public to refrain from illegal operation of drug stores and Agro-veterinary shops or risk prosecution in accordance with the provisions of the law” Mr. Mwape said.

He listed the suspects in a statement as Mambali Luumuno Male aged with of Mambax Agro Enterprise, Thomas Ngola Male aged 20 of Hafdhii Agro Outlet, Vivian Mukonje aged 68 of Ndiana Enterprises, Nawa Mombotwa Female aged 48 operating Mbotana Azwafi General Dealers and James Zozi Male aged 37 operating James Agro outlet.