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Fungai Jachi Court Correspondent
A 59-year-old Mufakose man was yesterday sentenced to five months in prison for possessing 0,443 kg of mbanje valued at $33. Charles Chabata was sentenced to eight months in jail by Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe. Mr Mahwe suspended three months of the sentence for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence during that period. Chabata will serve an effective five months.
In passing sentence, Mr Mahwe considered that Chabata was a first offender who pleaded guilty. However, he said although the courts tried to keep first offenders out of prison being a mbanje supplier was a serious offence.
“Dagga is a dangerous mood altering drug, which is detrimental to health. Deterrent sentences should be imposed on those who deal with dagga in order to discourage its use,” he said. Facts are that on December 17 detectives from CID drugs received information that Chabata was dealing in dangerous drugs.
Acting on the information the detectives went to Chabata’s house and introduced themselves and the purpose of their visit. Chabata led to the recovery of 33 satchets of mbanje, which were hidden between pillows in his bedroom.
He was arrested, and the mbanje which weighed 0,443kg had a street value of $33. Ms Francisca Mukumbiri prosecuted.
Online Reporter