Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
A 26-year-old villager from Makoni, who was found with 35 plants of dagga in his garden, has been sentenced to 26 months in jail.
The dagga plants had an average height of 140cm.
Maxwell Huta, of Matsika Village, was not represented when he appeared before Rusape magistrate Barbra Mateko.
Huta pleaded guilty to the offence and Mateko sentenced him to 36 months in prison before setting aside 10 months on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecutor Faith Mutukwa told the court that Huta violated Section 157(1)(c) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, which makes it illegal for a person to cultivate dagga, without requisite licence.
“On November 9, 2025, at around 7am, police officers who were on patrol received a tip-off to the effect that the accused was cultivating dagga in his garden.
“Police officers reacted positively to the information and proceeded to the accused person’s place of residence.
“The team approached the accused person and identified themselves as police officers from ZRP Rusape Rural.
“The accused led the police to his garden, leading to the recovery of thirty five plants of dagga.”
The prosecutor added:
“The accused person was asked for a licence which he failed to produce leading to his arrest.”
Mathew Masinge