adminWeekender Correspondent
A MUTASA man will spend the next 10 months in prison after he was convicted of cultivating 174 plants of marijuana on his plot.
Besides nursing the 2,25- metre tall plants he was also found in possession of 3,2kg of the dagga.
Panganai Patrick Paruma of Nyamukwarara Valley Village 4 under Chief Mutasa pleaded guilty to the charges of cultivating and possessing dagga when he appeared before Mutare Magistrate Mrs Annie Ndiraya.
He was slapped with a 12 month jail term, two months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
He will effectively serve 10 month behind bars.
Mr Shepherd Chavarika prosecuted.
It was the State’s case that detectives received a tip-off that the accused had planted marijuana at his plot.
“After being questioned over the issue, the accused led the detectives to the exact place where he had planted 174 plants of dagga, the other two plants were planted just by his homestead.
“At his homestead a sack of prepared dagga which weighed 3,2kgs was also found,” said Mr Chavarika.
Asked on why he cultivated mbanje on his farm, Paruma told the court that the drug was the only way he earned a living.
He said the drug was on high demand in the country.
However, he begged the court for leniency saying he did not know that it was illegal to cultivate mbanje.
In an unrelated case a Chikanga woman was fined $100 after she was found in possession of 1,35gs of mbanje which were recovered in her bedroom.
Police pounced on her after receiving a tip-off that she was supplying dagga.
Analisa Namora (39) of House Number 6196 Chikanga Phase 3 was warned against selling illegal drugs and was advised to look for other lawful means to fend for her family.
Online Reporter