Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Reporter
AN 18-year-old Bulawayo male youth has been ordered to perform 420 hours of community service for possessing 22 sachets of dagga without a license.
Anelka Tshuma from Cowdray Park pleaded not guilty to the charges of unlawful possession of dagga when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate, Mr Mehluli Moyo.
He sentenced him to 18 months in prison of which six were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
Should he do that he will be sentenced to prison without an option of paying fine.
The remaining 12 months were also suspended on condition he completes 420 hours of community service at Cowdray Park Police Station starting today (Thursday) and must finish the sentence within 12 weeks.
Prosecuting, Mrs Ellen Matenga, said the crime was committed on August 5, 2025 around 3.30PM when Bulawayo police detectives from CID drugs section received information that Tshuma was in possession of dangerous drugs at his place of residence.
The detectives proceeded to Cowdray Park and managed to locate the accused person. A search was conducted on the accused person leading to the recovery of 22 sachets of dagga in the accused person’s jean trouser pockets, said Mrs Matenga.
The accused was requested to produce a permit, which allows him to possess dagga and he failed leading to his arrest.
The recovered dagga was taken to Bulawayo Main Post Office for weighing in the presence of a caused person and it weighed 90 grams.
The recovered dagga had a street value of ZiG 660.
