Online Reporter
Moreblessing Ncube
A HOPE Fountain woman, who turned her tuck shop into a full-blown shebeen has been slapped with a three-month jail sentence.
Matron Moyo (42) pleaded guilty to selling liquor without a licence when she appeared before Tredgold Magistrate ,Maxwell Ncube. Her sentence was wholly suspended on condition she coughs up a US$300 fine.
Prosecutor Mehluli Ndlovu told the court that on June 20 around 3PM, a police team stormed Bonsor Mine during a sting operation targeting illegal booze joints.
The raid, led by officer Benjamin Gandi and a crew of inspectors and constables — Charuma, Sigauke, Nyevedzanai, Chauke, Manenji and Sibanda — descended on Moyo’s tuck shop.
Stashed inside the shop were:
• 7 bottles of Super beer
• 34 bottles of 8PM whisky
• 51 bottles of Star Cane whisky
• 14 bottles of Star Brandy
• 23 bottles of Hunters Gold
• 8 bottles of Hunters Dry
• 34 bottles of Calabash
Clearly, this was no ordinary tuck shop. It was a one-woman liquor warehouse!
When asked to produce a liquor licence, Moyo simply confessed: “I don’t have one.”
That sealed her fate. She was cuffed on the spot and hauled to Hillside Police Station for further grilling about her illegal liquor empire!
Now, she has 300 reasons to think twice before turning her shop into a pub.
