Chipinge man nabbed with 945 mbanje plants
FUNGAYI MUNYORO-CHINGAIRA
CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER
CHIPINGE – Magistrate Alfred Chinembiri has sentenced a Chipinge man to four years in jail after he was arrested by Police detectives with 945 plants of dagga.
Solomon Mlambo Makiwa (43) of Makiwa and Mabeure Villages under Chief Mapungwana, was charged with unlawful dealing in Dangerous Drugs as defined in section 156(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform)Act (chapter 9:23).
He will effectively serve three years after Magistrate Chinembiri suspended one year on condition of good behaviour. Makiwa did not deny the charge.
Prosecutor Timothy Katsande told the court that Police received a tip off on February 6, 2023 that Makiwa was illegally cultivating dagga at his two homesteads.
The detectives proceeded to his homestead in Makumba Village on the same day and found Makiwa’s daughter, Nothando at home. She told them that Makiwa had travelled to his other homestead in Mabeure Village.
The detectives followed him there, found him and after searching his premises they found 150 dagga plants which they uprooted.
On the next day, the detectives went back to Makiwa’s Makumba homestead and after searching the premises they found 795 plants of dagga which they uprooted.
The plants had an average height of 3.35 metres and the value was not ascertained.
