5 Things That Could Get You Jailed In Zambia

Every country has its own unique rules and laws that everyone should follow, regardless of whether you are a visitor or a resident. As a visitor, it is always good to know and understand certain rules before visiting a new country or you might end up embarrassing yourself and offending others. The same thing applies if you are visiting Zambia. So here are certain things that you should avoid doing while you are in this beautiful Southern African country, Zambia or you might end up in jail. I’m serious.

1. Possession/Consumption/Selling of any kind of drugs is illegal.

Right now, the government of Zambia is still contemplating on whether the use of marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes or not but that’s about it. Producing, buying, selling or possessing any kind of narcotics could land you in jail for up to 25 years. Yeah, that’s quite a long time. Even if you possess less than an ounce of drugs you will not be spared. You should also know that diphenhydramine, which is an active ingredient found in Benadryl, is not allowed in Zambia. In case you are planning to carry a cough syrup along with you remember, to check the ingredients beforehand. Can I get anymore clearer than this?

2. Don’t dress up like a cop, or a military personnel even if it is Halloween.

This one is a pretty straightforward rule. Just don’t wear anything that resembles the uniform of the Defence Force, the Police Service or any other official uniform for that matter. If you do make that mistake you will be held guilty and will be liable of conviction to imprisonment for a minimum of 15 years. So remember this law by heart because who would want to spend their entire vacation in jail, right?

3. Don’t bad mouth the President.

Guys, ultimately you should always keep in mind that you are visiting another country so always be mindful of what you are saying and where you are saying it. Avoid commenting about/insulting the President or you could get arrested under the ‘Defamation of the President Law.’ Yes, this law actually exists and if you defame the President you could end up in jail for at least 3 years. In short, beware of what you speak.

4. Avoid getting drunk in public.

If you want to have a good time in Zambia, you should visit the nightclubs and bars but remember to drink responsibly because if you don’t, you can get arrested. According to the law, anyone who is found drunk in public or found behaving indecently in public can be arrested without a warrant. If found guilty you can be put in jail for at least 3 months. Ouch!

5. Carrying around fake currency is a crime.

One of the most important things that you should know before visiting any country is to be able to differentiate between fake currency and real currency. If for any reason you are found possessing fake currency in Zambia, you can be imprisoned for a minimum of 7 years. It is advisable to buy Zambian Kwacha only from legitimate bureaus.