Suspected drug paddler’s brief taste of freedom

Paidamoyo Bore

EVELYN Ropafadzo Chikuwe’s freedom was short-lived when she was removed from remand on charges of dealing with dangerous drugs.

She was immediately arrested for a similar offence.

Chikuwe appeared before Harare magistrate, Dennis Mangosi, facing a charge of dealing in dangerous drugs.

The State said on Tuesday, police received information that Chikuwe was dealing in dangerous drugs.

They went to her place in Tynwald and found her leaving the house carrying a small bag.

The State said detectives found two sachets of crystal meth from Chikuwe’s bag.

She led them to Kuwadzana where a plastic bag, with approximately 340 grammes of crystal meth, was recovered.

The approximate cost of the crystal meth is $3 400 000.

Chikuwa denied the allegations through her lawyer Joseph Nemaisa.

She complained that she was severely beaten by nine “intelligence operatives” accompanying the detectives.

She claimed that her money amounting to US$100 was stolen during the search by the cops.

The State initiated consent to bail, but it was revoked by the magistrate.

Her lawyer pleaded with the court to release Chikuwe, stating that she was breastfeeding a two-month-old baby.

The magistrate, however, said bail ruling would only be made today.

In another matter, two women appeared before the same magistrate charged with possession of crystal meth.

Memory Gavaza, 44, and Nora Kandawasvika, 46, were remanded in custody to today for bail ruling.

Kandawasvika was recently acquitted in a similar matter.

The State said detectives went to Mbare National where Gavaza voluntarily handed them a lunchbox with 72 sachets of crystal meth and a scale after an interrogation.

The State said Gavaza, who is Kandawasvika’s maid, told police that she was selling the drugs on behalf of her employer.

The court heard that Kandawasvika was lured by the detectives leading to her arrest.

The crystal meth weighed 38 grammes.