MINE HIGH! How mine worker cuffed over ganja

Kimberley Chitambara

A HOW MINE employee’s shift came to a smoky end after he was caught with a sachet of dagga during a routine drug test.
Mkhokheli Mpofu (29) from How Mine was fined US$200 or faces a month behind bars after he was convicted of unlawful possession of marijuana by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba.

The court heard that the mine’s security guards conducted a routine alcohol and drug test around 6PM on 30 September before Mpofu could start work.
“The accused tested positive for drugs. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a sachet of marijuana from his pocket,” said prosecutor Ms Josephine Gurazhira.

The guards immediately alerted the police at Hillside Station, leading to Mpofu’s arrest.
The recovered stash was later weighed at Bulawayo’s Main Post Office in Mpofu’s presence and confirmed to be four grams of marijuana, with an estimated street value of ZiG108.

Magistrate Gwazemba ordered Mpofu to pay the fine through the Clerk of Court by 30 October or serve time in prison if he defaults.
Mpofu, who reportedly appeared calm in court, did not contest the charge.

Police have since warned the public against the possession and use of dangerous drugs, saying routine workplace drug checks are part of ongoing efforts to promote safety and discipline in mining operations.