adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
NINE villagers from Tsholotsho South have been arrested after mbanje plantations were found in the area. Police raided the area and recovered a truckload of the illegal plants.
Seven men and two women from Denge area, under chief Gampu, were arrested on Sunday, the area’s Member of Parliament, Zenzo Sibanda said.
He said each year people were arrested for mbanje growing, but it seems it was taking long to dawn on them that dagga would not be legalised in Zimbabwe.
The MP said villagers are normally fined following arrests, and believes the fines are not deterrent enough.
Sibanda said he had sourced equipment to start an irrigation project and was hopeful that this would dissuade people from the illegal trade.
“The saddest part about mbanje in my area, especially in that particular village, is that there are high levels of crime. Murder and assaults are recorded there throughout the year,” he said.
“It’s a consequence of the effects of the illegal drug and for sure most of these villagers are high most of the time.”
Tsholotsho Rural District Council chairperson Alois Ndebele said the discovery of mbanje plantations does not come as a shock.
“People here actually boast that their ancestors survived through selling mbanje. They went to school through money earned from mbanje and so they can’t think of a better way of earning a living other than planting mbanje,” he said.
“Throughout the year they’ve a perennial water source along Manzamnyama river on the boundary of Tsholotsho and Plumtree.
“Villagers need to be educated on the effects and consequences of mbanje.”
No comment could be obtained immediately from the police.
derick.khumalo