‘I survive on selling mbanje’

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A VILAGER from Inyathi in Bubi District who was found with 62 twists of mbanje at his homestead has told a court that he survives on selling drugs.

Never Nyoni of Ntobi area pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of dangerous drugs when he appeared before magistrate Stephen Ndlovu on circuit in Inyathi on Monday.

“This is my source of livelihood. I survive on selling mbanje and if I am sent to jail my children will suffer,” said Nyoni.

The magistrate remanded him out of custody to today for sentencing.

Prosecuting, Lungisani Dube said Nyoni, 34, was arrested at his homestead by cops from Insuza Police Station.

The police officers, who were investigating a case of theft, noticed mbanje seeds on the ground in the yard.

“On May 2 at about 3PM, police officers from Insuza were at Ntobi making inquiries on a case of theft. When they got to the accused’s homestead, they noticed mbanje seeds on the ground near a bedroom hut,” said Dube.

He said the cops requested to search Nyoni’s bedroom hut where they stumbled on the mbanje. “The officers searched the bedroom hut and recovered 62 twists of mbanje in a handbag. The accused was immediately arrested and taken to Insuza police station,” said Dube.

The twists weighed 200 grammes and their estimated value was not given.