adminSukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
The possession of 122 twists of mbanje has landed a 60-year-old grandmother from Lalapanzi in prison.
Revesai Zendera of Netherburn Compound in Lalapanzi appeared before Mvuma magistrate Mr Musaiwona Shotgame facing one count of unlawful possession of drugs. She pleaded guilty to the charge. Mr Shotgame said Zendera was a repeat offender who deserved a long prison term.
“In 2016, the accused was sentenced to 12 months in prison for a similar offence of which six months were set aside on condition that she does not commit a similar crime within five years.
“Five years have not passed and she is sentenced to 10 months in prison, I will add the six months from the previous sentence. So the accused is sentenced to 16 months in prison,” he said. Mr Shotgame castigated Zendera for being unrepentant despite her old age.
“You are an unrepentant woman and as such you deserve a custodial sentence. An old woman like you should be a role model to youngsters, but you are the one who is promoting drug abuse among young people,” he said.
The agreed facts are that on January 2, at around 6pm, the police received a tip off to the effect that Zendera had drugs at her house. The police raided her home and recovered 122 twists of dagga hidden in a plastic bucket, which was filled with maize leading to her arrest. The recovered drugs weighed 1,5kg. No value was stated. Mr Michael Kazemba appeared for the State.
Online Reporter