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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 25-YEAR-OLD disabled man told a court that he smoked dagga to stimulate his appetite. Augustine Phiri of Lakeview area in Plumtree told Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa, that he had a medical condition which made him lose his appetite. “I have a medical condition which causes me to lose appetite at times. I use the dagga to help me gain my appetite because once I fail to treat my condition I can go for several days without eating any food at all which is not a good thing to do,” said Phiri.
He also told the magistrate that he earned a living through selling dagga as his family had deserted him.
“I live alone, my parents passed away and I have no one to assist me with money to buy food. I realised that selling dagga was an easy way for me to make money but the problem that I have is that the police are always on my case, now I do not know how I will be able to sustain myself,” he said.
Phiri was, however, lucky to escape with a caution after the magistrate considered the challenges he was facing.
Mr Ruvetsa lashed out at Phiri for coming up with excuses to justify his illegal activities.
“Stop making silly excuses to justify your actions. It appears that you have a lot of food to eat at home and that is why you are searching for appetite. Make sure that from here onwards you will never sell or smoke dagga.
“If you ever smoke dagga again I will make sure that you go to jail. At least then you will not have problems of searching for appetite because you will have limited food to eat. For now you are cautioned and discharged but let this be a lesson for you to correct your ways,” he said.
Prosecutor, Mr Stanley Chinyanganya, told how on 17 July Phiri was found in possession of loose dagga valued at $10.
On the day police detectives received a tip off that Phiri was selling dagga. They proceeded to his home where they searched him and found two packets of loose dagga valued at $10 in his pockets. He was arrested immediately.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter