admin
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Court Reporter
A South African woman arrested a fortnight ago at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in possession of 795 grammes of cocaine worth US$770 000, will know her fate tomorrow when Chief magistrate Mr Munamato Mutevedzi makes a judgment in the matter.
Shila Khumalo (50) of Johannesburg, yesterday denied dealing in dangerous drugs when her trial opened, saying the cocaine in question was for her personal consumption.
Khumalo, who was represented by lawyer Mr Tinashe Zinto, told the court that she had no contacts in Zimbabwe, which allow her to deal in drugs and was only nabbed while she was about to catch a flight to South Africa.
She, however, admitted to possessing the cocaine.
“She pleads not guilty and she states that when she was arrested, she was in transit to South Africa and she had already crossed the green zone to board a plane to South Africa.
“She never deliberated with anyone other than arresting details. She has no contacts in Zimbabwe and there was no any other third party or anyone she contacted in Zimbabwe.
“The drugs were for her own use and she never sold to anyone as she is not in the business of buying and selling.
“She denies importing any drugs into the country.
“Importing process is complete upon reaching destination.
“She does not deny possessing but denies dealing in drugs,” said Mr Zinto.
Mr Zinto, however, acknowledged that Khumalo was found in possession of 795 grammes of cocaine she had got from Brazil.
A police officer who testified during her trial, Progress Changaira, told the court that Khumalo was arrested on the green zone when she was about to leave the country.
Chingaira told the court that the amount of cocaine that Khumalo was in possession of pointed out that it was destined for trade.
“The drugs were too many for one to possess for personal use. She had not yet crossed the red line and was not at no man’s land,” she said.
The State led by Mr Oscar Madhume alleges that on May 9 detectives received information to the effect that Khumalo was travelling from Brazil aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight and was expected to land at the airport the following day.
The court heard that on May 10 detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics teamed up with members of the CIO and Zimra at the airport and intercepted Khumalo while she was passing through the immigration counter at around 1.30pm.
She was searched and she was found with the whitish substance suspected to be cocaine in her undergarments.
The State said the tests made on the substance were positive to cocaine.
Online Reporter