Online Reporter
Getrude Manyande, [email protected]
A 19-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man caught with nearly 400 grammes of dagga whose street value is estimated at ZiG11 820 has been spared jail time after the court ordered him to perform 630 hours of community service at a local primary school.
Terrence Banda of Makokoba suburb was convicted on his own plea of guilty to unlawful possession of dagga without a licence or permit by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Shingai Mutiro.
Banda was sentenced to 24 months in prison and six months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during the next five years. The remaining 18 months were suspended on condition that he performs 630 hours of community service at Mzilikazi Primary School.
Prosecuting, Ms Veronica Manyuka told the court that Banda was arrested after police received a tip-off that he was in possession of dagga.
The court heard that on August 3 at about 1PM, officers from Queens Park Police Station received information that Banda was in possession of dangerous drugs at a bottle store near Fairbridge Police Camp.
“Acting on the information, the police proceeded to the bottle store where they found the accused. They identified themselves and requested to search him and his belongings,” she said.
The police searched Banda’s room and found a transparent plastic sachet containing dagga on his bedding.
Banda was asked to produce a licence or permit authorising him to possess the drug but failed to do so leading to his arrest.
“The recovered dagga was taken to the Bulawayo Main Post Office where it was weighed in Banda’s presence and it was found to be 394 grammes whose street value is about ZiG11 820,” said Ms Manyuka.
