Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza Online Correspondent
A suspected drug dealer Moses Muzhambi has appeared in court after being caught with dagga worth US$1,313,000 smuggled across the border from South Africa.
Muzhambi appeared before Harare regional magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka on charges of unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs.
The State represented by Heather Muokoto opposed bail and brought in arresting officer Detective Assistant Inspector Simbi Padzakashamba, who deemed Muzhambi unfit for bail.
The court heard that Muzhambi allegedly smuggled 1,094.20 kilogrammes of dagga from South Africa into Zimbabwe. The smuggling took place on May 27 and May 28, 2026.
Muzhambi connived with Moses Chauke, Prosper Jena, and a female only known as Victoria. They allegedly used illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River, on the eastern side of the Beitbridge Border Post. Chauke has since been arrested and remanded in custody under Harare Regional Magistrate Court case number CRB HRER807/26. Victoria, however, remains at large.
Muzhambi allegedly used his getaway vehicle, a Toyota Dyna with registration number AGI3765, to transport the contraband from the Limpopo River to his home, under Chief Tshitaudze, Beitbridge District, in preparation for its onward transportation to Harare.
It is the State’s case that on May 31, 2026, at around 8 pm, Muzhambi loaded the contraband into a 30-tonne haulage truck bearing registration number AFJ2961, which was towing a trailer with registration number AGKO536.
The truck was being driven by Thapson Ndou. The court heard that on June 1, 2026, the said truck was intercepted by police at LIGI Restaurant, opposite Swift Company, Southerton, Harare.
A search of the truck was conducted in the presence of the driver, Ndou, resulting in the recovery of 1 094.20 kilogrammes of compressed dagga packaged in black and transparent plastic bags.
On August 19, 2026, police conducted investigations which led to the arrest of the accused at Beitbridge Border Post.
At the time of his arrest, the accused was in the process of registering and paying duty on his newly acquired Toyota Hilux GD6 bearing a South African registration number.
Following his arrest, Muzhambi led police to his home where they recovered a white Toyota Dyna with registration number AGI3765.
Muzhambi allegedly used the vehicle to transport the contraband from the illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River to his home. The vehicle was seized under Exhibit Seizure Confirmation receipt number 0088749.
Police also recovered and seized a Salt-branded cellphone, with IMEI numbers 359176170071919 and 359176170031913, under Exhibit Seizure Confirmation Receipt No. 0088750.
A preliminary examination of the recovered and seized cellphone established that the accused has numerous text messages, WhatsApp messages, and audio voice notes exchanged with his co-accused, Ndou and Moses Chauke, as well as his accomplice, Prosper Jena, who is still at large.
The communications were related to the acquisition of dagga from the South African side and arrangements for its transportation to Harare.
The recovered dagga has an estimated street value of US$1 313 000.
