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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
A TRADITIONAL healer arrested for growing mbanje in his garden said he used the plant as medicine to treat his clients.
In an interview after his court case Ncedani Ndlovu (47) of Madlambuzi area in Bulilima District said he had been using the plant for the past seven years.
It has helped him treat several incurable diseases. He said he cultivated the plant in his garden and kept it hidden among other crops and vegetables over the past years.
He said he only uses the plant as medicine but has never smoked the herb.
a�?I have been using dagga as medicine for the past seven years. I have managed to help a lot of people with this plant.
I treat people suffering from different conditions such as HIV, diabetes, herpes, meningitis, blindness among other diseases.
a�?I have my own traditional medicine that I use but I mix it with dagga to ensure that it becomes strong and effective.
In fact I can tackle any problem and cure any illness with the help of dagga,a�? he said.
Ndlovu said he had also helped infertile women to conceive.
He said he also used the plant to treat livestock and to improve their fertility.
a�?I have also treated diseases among livestock especially cattle. I also have medicine that improves fertility of cattle and several people who have approached me for assistance now own a large herd of cattle because of my medicine,a�? he said.
Ndlovu said he has managed to help many people with court cases or people who had been arrested to be set free and discharged.
He said he had clients that came from surrounding wards in Bulilima and Botswana.
He said the dagga plant was crucial and could save lives of people if used properly.
a�?Ita��s a pity that many people especially youngsters abuse dagga by smoking it but it plays a crucial role in the lives of people. Different parts of the plant can serve various purposes.
a�?For my treatment I sometimes use the leaves, roots or the stem and mix them with my own traditional medicine depending on the problem,a�? he said.
Ndlovu was recently ordered to pay a $100 fine when he appeared at the Plumtree magistratesa�� court for possession of dagga.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty by Plumtree magistrate, Mr Joshua Mawere. He was ordered to have paid the money by January 31 or he will spend 30 days in prison.
Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said police from Madlambuzi Station received a tip off that Ndlovu was cultivating dagga in his garden.
a�?Police detectives went to Ndlovua��s homestead on 11 January where they searched his homestead. They found three plants ranging between two and three metres leading to his arrest,a�? said Mr Mazorodze.
Ndlovu told the court that he did not have malicious intent by cultivating the dagga but was merely fulfilling his role of saving lives in the community.
Online Reporter