Zambia : READ how Skin Lightening Creams Lands Woman In Jail

Zambia : READ how Skin Lightening Creams Lands Woman In Jail

A woman was sentenced to three months in jail after she was found in posession of prohibited, dangerous skin lightening creams.




 

Iris Khumalo aged 41 who resides at number   56397 Old Lobengula, Bulawayo has been sentenced to three months in jail after she was found in possession of skin lightening products in Victoria Falls.
According to a local publication Chronicle, Iris Khumalo was found guilty of contravening the Medicines and Allied
Substances Control Act which criminalizes the sale of unregistered medicines when she appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa.
She was charged with a three-month jail term. One month was suspended for five years on condition of good behavior.
Iris  Khumalo was found in possession of an assortment unregistered harmful skin lightening namely Betasol crèam and lotion, Lemonvate crèam, Epideme crèam, Bronze Tone, Perfect White crèam, Cocopulp Lightning Oil and cream, Carolight crèam, Pure Skin Lotion, Bio Claire, and Diproson. The skin lightening creams were confiscated by the State.
Speaking about the arrest, Prosecutor Sithabile Daka-Mungombe said Khumalo, was arrested at a roadblock after she was found in possession of the banned products with the intent of selling them.

“Police deployed at Masuwe roadblock stopped a vehicle that was going towards Hwange and requested to search the luggage. The driver had given a lift to four passengers. Police found various kinds of unregistered medicines in Khumalo’s bag,” said Daka-Mungombe.

As a result, Iris Khumalo was arrested on the spot.
The skin lightening creams are alleged to have been smuggled from Zambia into Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe skin lightening creams are prohibited as a result, anyone found selling or in possession of them can be arrested.  Not only are these skin lightening creams illegal but there are also harmful as they have bleaching agents that adversely affect one’s skin.