/ 13 August 2001

TANZANIAN (70) GETS LIFE FOR SELLING MARIJUANA

A 70-YEAR-old man Tanzanian man has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of cultivating and selling cannabis, a government official said on Sunday. Mareremba Machafu of the northern Kagera region began his term in jail on Friday following his conviction and failure to raise a one million shilling ($1 220) fine, said Kagera Regional Commissioner Ignas Mbinga. Machafu had pleaded guilty to the charge following his arrest on Thursday when he was found in possession of 1 600 kilogrammes of the narcotic. – AFP