Man Fined K4.5 Million for Selling Fake Maize Seeds in Chitipa

First Grade Magistrate Court in Chitipa District has ordered Chimwemwe Mtambo, 28, to pay a fine of K4.5 million for selling fake maize seeds in the district.

On November 15, 2025, Mtambo was found with 80 packets of counterfeit maize seeds of various varieties. He was producing and selling these seeds without a licence in the district.

In court, Mtambo pleaded guilty and asked for leniency.

State Prosecutor, Robert Chawinga, pressed for a stiffer sentence, arguing that while the convict was a first offender, the offence was serious, noting its maximum penalty of K50 million and 10 years’ imprisonment.

When passing the sentence, First Grade Magistrate Billy Ngosi concurred with the State’s submission and noted that although Mtambo did not waste the court’s time and showed remorse throughout the trial, he needed to impose a sentence that would serve as a lesson to him and deter other would-be offenders.

Ngosi therefore sentenced Mtambo to pay the K4.5 million fine. In default of payment, he would serve a 12-month jail term with hard labour. The court also ordered that the counterfeit products be destroyed.

Mtambo has since paid the fine and been released.