dyton mupawaenda
George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
A major grower of mbanje in Masvingo district who had a plot of 102 plants along the Mutirikwi River and three other alleged dealers have been arrested for selling the drug.
The provincial taskforce on combating drug and substance abuse has vowed to leave no stone unturned to end this scourge, with Masvingo City Council also intensifying the crackdown against the vice by banning drinking of the controversial ‘’energy’’ drink Kambucha, which is believed to contain alcohol.
Police in Masvingo acting on a tip off swooped on Ekem Chari of Tevera village under Chief Murinye and recovered 102 mbanje plants growing on the banks of Mutirikwi River.
Chari (37) is believed to have been supplying the mbanje to shop owners in and around his home village in Masvingo district.
Acting Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Lorraine Chanakira Ndlovu said police uprooted the mbanje plants that will be used in court as exhibit.
“The recovered mbanje plants were between 150cm and 50cm in height and we recovered them from Chari who was growing them on the banks of Mutirikwi River.
“We pounced on him after getting a tip off from members of the public and we urge more people to do likewise so that we defeat this scourge of drug and substance abuse,’’ said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
It is believed that the recovered mbanje plants were the sources of a lot of the drug retailing in Masvingo City in shops and on the streets.
Asst Inspector Chanakira Ndlovu said police also arrested three people who were found in possession of mbanje they were allegedly selling at Dikitiki Business Centre in Masvingo District.
“We also arrested Grace Mukatya (40) who was found with one twist of dagga that she was selling in her shop at Dikitiki business centre together with Rueben Mashiri (34) who was also found with one twist of marijuana in his shop at the same business centre.
“A random search by police detectives at the same business centre led to the arrest of Lonias Zezai(33) who was found with a small sachet again at Dikitiki,’’ she said.
Police were going to continue the war against drug and substance abuse across Masvingo province with Asst Inspector Chanakira Ndlovu warning the net would soon close in on all the culprits.
Zimbabwe does differentiate between users, who normally pay small fines, and dealers who must appear before a magistrate.
Masvingo City Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said that the local authority was working with other stakeholders to tame the scourge of substance and drug abuse and revealed that they had employed a mental health nurse to help deal with those affected by drug and substance abuse.
‘’Besides working with other stakeholders were have also employed a mental health nurse who is stationed at Runyararo Council Clinic who will be working with other nurses and also members of the public to assist in the rehabilitation and counselling of those with mental health challenges.
“We have also been rolling out awareness campaigns to educate our residents on the dangers of drug and substance abuse and in the line we have also roped in our junior councillors and parliamentarians who have started holding debates that promote abstinence from drug and substance,’’ he said.
Spokesperson of the Masvingo anti drug and substance abuse provincial taskforce Mr Rodgers Irimai said there was a serious problem of abuse of drugs and substances across the province a standing committee has been set up to identify and fish out drug lords noting that progress made so far in the fight was encouraging.
Online Reporter