Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
TWO men from Chief Nekatambe’s area in Hwange District have been jailed for unlawful possession of dangerous drugs as the Government intensifies efforts to combat drug and substance abuse.
Darlington Ncube (33), of Kasongole Village, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment for unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs.
Six months were conditionally suspended, leaving him to serve an effective 18 months. He was convicted on his own plea of guilty before Hwange Provincial Magistrate, Ms Rumbidzai Kabesa.
Prosecutor Wisdom Shava told the court that on July 22, 2025, at around 11:00am, police detectives acting on a tip-off found Ncube at Kasongole Bottle Store.
A body search led to the discovery of three twists of prepared dagga in the pocket of his jacket. He later led officers to his home, where a search uncovered two plastic bags of loose dagga hidden under a bed.
Ncube failed to produce a licence or permit for possession of the substance, resulting in his arrest. The seized dagga weighed 600 grammes, with an estimated street value of US$600 (ZWG18,000).
In a separate case, Willard Mutekesa (52), of Bangali Village, was convicted for unlawful possession of dangerous drugs and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, with four months conditionally suspended. He will serve an effective five months after pleading guilty.
Mutekesa was arrested on June 20, 2025, at the Lukosi Secondary School bus stop after detectives found a sachet of loose dagga in a satchel he was carrying. The dagga weighed 60 grammes and had a street value of ZWG600. Like Ncube, he failed to produce a valid permit.
These cases come at a time when Zimbabwe is grappling with a growing drug and substance abuse crisis that has taken a toll on communities, particularly the youth. The Government, through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, has declared drug abuse a national emergency and launched a multi-sectoral response strategy to fight the scourge.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), have intensified nationwide crackdowns on drug dealers and traffickers, raiding hotspots, confiscating illegal substances and arresting suspected suppliers.
Regular patrols and community tip-offs have become vital tools in dismantling local drug networks.
Among the substances frequently abused are dagga, crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as mutoriro), cocaine, BronCleer (a cough syrup often misused for its narcotic effects), as well as a growing list of over-the-counter medications being re-purposed for recreational use.
Government initiatives also include the establishment of rehabilitation centres, awareness campaigns in schools and communities, and partnerships with civil society organisations to offer psychosocial support and skills training for recovering addicts.
The sentencing of Ncube and Mutekesa underscores the state’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit drug activities, as authorities aim to stem the tide of drug abuse and its devastating consequences for public health and security.
