Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
NYANGA-BASED businessman, Jeremiah Bande (38), has been fined US$200 for selling unregistered medicines at his shop – Bande General Dealer – located at Bende Business Centre.
His actions contravened the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act, (Chapter 15:03).
Bande pleaded guilty to the charges when he recently appeared before Nyanga magistrate, Ms Notebulgar Muchineripi.
He was given the option of paying the fine or serving a two-month prison sentence.
Prosecutor, Ms Beverly Chatindo, said Bande was busted by police detectives displaying and selling over the counter a range of medicines, which are unregistered in Zimbabwe.
“On September 12, at around 6pm, detectives from CID Nyanga, who were on patrol, entered Bande’s shop. They introduced themselves to Bande, who was behind the counter, by producing their police identity cards after observing illegal medicines on display for sale.
“The detectives requested to conduct a search for additional drugs and allied substances in his shop, to which he consented. The search yielded 176 packets of Diclofenac sodium and paracetamol (Aliviador), 100 packets of diclofenac sodium and paracetamol (Paralogo), one packet of Ibuprofen, eight packets of Diclosha, and eight packets of Acefen, all of which are unregistered specified medicines in Zimbabwe.
“When asked to produce authority from the Medicines and Allied Control Authority of Zimbabwe, the accused failed to do so, resulting in his arrest.
The recovered unregistered medicines have a street value of US$180,” said Ms Chatindo.
