Dagga peddlers nabbed

Danisa Masuku, Court Reporter

TWO men and a woman appeared in court in separate cases, facing charges of dealing in dangerous drugs after being found in possession of dagga with a combined street value of ZWG78 000 and US$12 500.

Sazini Phiri (45), from Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

She was represented by Dereck Kossam of Liberty Mcijo and Associates. Through her lawyer, Phiri admitted to being found in possession of dagga but claimed it belonged to Melisa Nkomo, a tenant at her family home.

The lawyer said that Phiri had boarded a commuter omnibus from Cowdray Park to the city centre. Upon disembarking at the TM Hyper terminus, Nkomo allegedly asked Phiri to hold a plastic bag while she rushed to the toilet.

Moments later, detectives from the Drugs and Narcotics section in Bulawayo approached Phiri, searched the plastic bag, and discovered dagga inside.

Kossam told the court that detectives then escorted Phiri to her family home in Cowdray Park, where they thoroughly searched her bedroom but found no dagga. However, they discovered a container behind the house containing dagga.

Prosecutor Jethro Mada stated that on 30 June this year, detectives received a tip-off that Phiri was in possession of dagga and travelling in a commuter omnibus to the city centre.

The detectives followed the vehicle to TM Hyper, intercepted it as passengers were alighting, and arrested Phiri.

She was allegedly found holding two plastic bags concealed in a cardboard box. Upon inspection, the bags were found to contain dagga. Phiri failed to produce a licence or permit, leading to her arrest. A further search at her home revealed two black plastic bags containing dagga in the yard.

The dagga was taken to Bulawayo Main Post Office, where it weighed 2,6kg and was valued at ZWG78 000. The matter was postponed to Monday, 27 October 2025, for continuation of trial.

In a similar case, Ayanda Ncube (32) and Gift Makonese (35) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Taurai Manuwere and pleaded not guilty.

They were represented by Task Vhiki and Mary Nyika of Task Vhiki and Attorneys. Nyika, the lead lawyer, argued that Ncube had been expecting a delivery of groceries from a relative in South Africa.

She said that as the bus approached Bulawayo, the driver, Lloyd Sibanda, phoned Ncube and instructed him to wait at Fife Street between Sixth Avenue and Leopold Takawira Avenue. Due to a family matter, Ncube asked Makonese to collect the goods on his behalf. However, Makonese returned under arrest, and both men were taken to the police station.

Nyika stated that upon arrival at the station, officers opened the sack, which contained baked beans, cereal, and 25 sachets of dagga — contrary to the groceries Ncube had expected. She argued that the sack did not belong to either accused and bore no address linking it to them.

Furthermore, Ncube did not know the person who had phoned him regarding the delivery.

According to the prosecution, on 11 July this year, detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics section received information that a bus named Godzilla, travelling from South Africa to Bulawayo, was carrying a sack marked 2669/C/P BYO containing dagga.

The bus arrived at around 7:30PM and parked along Fife Street.

After passengers disembarked and goods were offloaded, the sack remained on the bus floor. Makonese arrived, collected the sack from Sibanda, and was later arrested. Ncube was subsequently arrested as well.

The 25 sachets of dagga were recorded in Form 390 in the presence of both accused and will be presented as evidence in court. The matter was postponed to 27 October for continuation of trial.
Nomthandazo Mafu represented the State.