Businesswoman up for dealing in dagga

Lovemore Kadzura

Mutare Bureau

A RURAL businesswoman, who used her grocery shop as base to peddle illegal drugs, has finally been arrested by detectives who found her in possession of dagga.

Evelyn Mafetuka (56), of Muswe Business Centre in Chiendambuya, in Makoni district, was nabbed by detectives with sachets of dagga she was selling.

She was not represented when she appeared before Rusape magistrate Barbra Mateko, who convicted her of the offence.

Magistrate Mateko sentenced her to 24 months imprisonment and set aside 12 months on condition of good behavior, and the remainder on condition that she performs 420 hours of community service at Chimboza Primary School.

The dagga was fortified to the State.

Faith Mutukwa appeared for the state and said, “On January 10, 2025 at about 5.50 pm, detectives received information to the effect that the accused person was dealing in dangerous at her shop at Kumbukani shop, Muswe Business Centre at Chiendambuya. Armed with this information detectives proceeded to the mentioned shop and approached Mafetuka, identified themselves as detectives by producing their identity cards and searched her.

“Searches were conducted where on packet of with dagga was recovered in a dish which was hanging from the wall in the bedroom, in the shop 3 packets were recovered from a box under the counter.

“She was subsequently arrested.  She and the dagga were taken to police station. The dagga was weighed at ZIMPOST where it weighed 0,130 kilograms,” Mutukwa said.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case Lyton Showa, of Vengere in Rusape appeared before magistrate Mateko facing one count of possession crystal methamphetamine.

He was not represented and pleaded guilty to the offence.

Magistrate Mateko sentenced him to six months imprisonment before suspending four months on condition of good behaviour.

The remaining four months were set aside on condition that he performs 140 hours of community service at Vengere Clinic in Rusape.

Appearing for the State was prosecutor Mutukwa who said: “On November 11, 2025 at around 3:40pm, detectives who were on patrol in Vengere suburb received information to the effect that the accused person was in possession of dangerous drugs.

“Detectives proceeded to his place of residence, place of residence, where they found him and introduced themselves as police officers and contacted a search on him. “He was found with a sachet containing crystal methamphetamine in his trousers pocket.

“The recovered crystal methamphetamine was forwarded to Forensic Department Harare for examination and the certificate can be produced in the court,” Mutukwa told the court.