LUSAKA Magistrate Idah Phiri has acquitted a Malawian national Paul Juma Phiri for the offence of child trafficking. In this matter, Phiri was charged with one count of child trafficking. It was alleged that between August 1, 2024 and May 30, 2025, he, jointly and whilst acting together with other person unknown, trafficked a child identified as TDW within the territorial boundaries of Zambia for the purpose of sexual exploitation, a charge he denied. When the matter came up for judgment, Friday, Magistrate Phiri ruled that there were gaps in the investigation of the case, stating that some critical witnesses did not appear before court. “The evidence in this matter discloses two issues that PW1 was recruited through misrepresentation of...