admin
Prosper Dembedza Court Correspondent
Two Harare men were on Monday sentenced to eight years in jail each for possessing 30 bags of mbanje weighing 710kg, with a street value of $51 000.
Harare magistrate Ms Estere Chivasa initially slapped Alphonse Mushanawani and Brighton Dinda (both 28) with 10-year jail sentences each before conditionally suspending two years.
The 710kg of mbanje and Toyota Hiace used in committing the offence were forfeited to the State.
In his defence during trial, Mushanawani said Johannes Moyo and his friends hired his vehicle and were the ones who were arrested at the scene.
“The State is challenged to avail call records of all the involved police officers to the court, accused is sure this cheap conspiracy will be exposed,” read his defence.
“The State is being used by the accused’s detractors who want to destroy his transport business. The alleged State informer has captured a clique of police officers that he feeds with false information.
“These are malicious, frivolous and vexatious allegations being peddled by the cabal of police officers and their informers.”
Dinda also denied the allegations.
Allegations are that on April 13 this year, police detectives received information that the pair was loading mbanje into two vehicles in Damofalls area, Harare.
Acting on the tip off, the detectives drove to Damofalls and intercepted the vehicles along the way. Mushanawani attempted to speed off in one of the vehicles, but both were arrested.
Online Reporter