adminChipinge Correspondent
LUCK ran out for a Chipinge mbanje peddler who was recently arrested after being found in possession of 20kg of the drug on his way to the market in Chiredzi.
Canias Mhlanga (35) of Matezwa Village, who was arrested while on his way to Chiredzi to sell mbanje, appeared before Chipinge magistrate Mr Clemence Ngweshiwa recently.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge, arguing that police had wrongly implicated him as the owner of the bag which had the recovered mbanje.
“Your Worship, I deny the charge because I was not in possession of the bags in question when I boarded the kombi at Matezwa Bus Stop.
“It is not true that I admitted that I was the owner of the bags when police arrested me at Checheche Growth Point,” he said.
The State, led by Mr Brian Madzura, said: “On August 1, around 4pm, the accused boarded a commuter omnibus, Registration Number AAB 3738 at Matezwa Bus Stop.
“Constables Banga and Gonamombe were on board.
“The two picked up the smell of mbanje and upon arrival at Checheche, they ordered the accused to disembark and searched his bags.
“The two police officers interrogated him and he admitted that he was the owner of the bags.
“They arrested him and handed him over to Chisumbanje police.
“The mbanje was weighed at Checheche Zimpost and it was 20kg,”said Mr Madzura.
Online Reporter