Dagga smoker claims it’s for chest pains

Sukulwenkosi Dube
A 57-YEAR-OLD Bulilima dagga smoker told a court that he could not abandon the illegal substance as it was a remedy for chest pains that he was experiencing.

Feni Patrick Moyo of Dombodema area in Bulilima was arrested for smoking the illegal substance after his wife reported him to the police.

He was convicted of unlawful possession of dangerous drugs by Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa.

Moyo told the court that he had chest problems and he smoked the dagga as medicine.

“I have chest problems and my friend told me that if I smoked dagga, I would get cured. Ever since I started smoking I have become better and I cannot quit smoking because that will mean I will get sick again,” he said.

Mr Ruvetsa sentenced Moyo to nine months imprisonment of which three months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit an offence of the same nature.

The remaining six months were further suspended on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service at Male Primary School.

Prosecuting, Mr Clemence Shawarira said Moyo’s wife reported to the police on 21 July that her husband smokes dagga.

He said police detectives received information that Moyo and his wife were having a domestic dispute at their homestead.

“Police attended the scene and while they were there Moyo’s wife told them that her husband smoked dagga. She also revealed that he became violent every time he smoked which caused frequent domestic disputes between them.

“A search was conducted in Moyo’s bedroom hut and police recovered a sachet of loose dagga which weighed 0,002 kilogrammes hidden in the room,” said Mr Shawarira.

In a related case, a 51-year-old man will spend the next 14 months in prison after he was found in possession of 61 twists of dagga in his house and 29 plants which he had cultivated in his garden.

Tsabela Ndlovu of Masendu area was arrested after police detectives received a tip-off that he was selling dagga.

Ndlovu, who appeared before the same magistrate was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit an offence of the same nature.

In addition Mr Ruvetsa said the dagga had to be forfeited and destroyed.

Prosecuting Mr Clemence Shawarira said: “On 20 July police received a tip-off that Ndlovu was selling dagga.

“They proceeded to his homestead where they searched his possessions and recovered 61 twists.

“Upon carrying out further investigations police also recovered 29 plants which had an average height of 30 centimetres in his garden.”