Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku Court writer
THE trial of two men facing charges of dealing in dangerous drugs amounting to US$12 500 continues at the Bulawayo regional court as the cyber-forensic report shows that the bus driver communicated with the main accused person, Ayanda Ncube, on several occasions proving that he knew what he was carrying.
Ncube (32) and Gift Makonese (35) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Taurai Manuwere and pleaded not guilty.
They were represented by Task Vhiki and Mary Nyika of Task Vhiki and Attorneys.
Nyika, the lead lawyer, argued that Ncube had been expecting a delivery of groceries from a relative in South Africa.
She said as the bus approached Bulawayo, the driver, Lloyd Sibanda, phoned Ncube and instructed him to wait at Fife Street between Sixth Avenue and Leopold Takawira Avenue. Due to a pressing family matter, which needed his attention, Ncube asked Makonese to collect the goods on his behalf.
However, Makonese returned under arrest, and both men were taken to the police station.
Nyika stated that upon arrival at the station, officers opened the sack, which contained baked beans, cereal, and 25 sachets of dagga — contrary to the groceries Ncube had expected. She argued that the sack did not belong to either accused and bore no address linking it to them.
Furthermore, Ncube did not know the person who had phoned him regarding the delivery.
Nyika grilled the driver of the bus Mr Sibanda, and asked him: “Kindly care to tell this court where the bag was found?
Responding, Mr Sibanda said: “The bag was under a seat in the bus.”
To which Mary said: “Why was it placed inside the bus instead of being put in a compartment with other bags? I put it to you that you knew what was inside and the bag containing drugs was yours. You are trying to evade crime.”
However, the State represented by Ms Nomthandazo Mafu stated that a cyber-forensic report revealed that Ncube and the bus driver were communicating from the time he collected a bag from Ncube’s relative in South Africa until he arrived in Zimbabwe.
The State also submitted that Ayanda confirmed during cross-examination that he sent a driver to collect the groceries.
The State said: “Ayanda’s driver went straight to the bus’s driver and correctly described the bag and they gave him. That proves that he knew what was in the bag.
“The State revealed that 25 sachets of dagga were hidden inside the bag under the grocery showing an element of concealment and premeditation.”
According to the prosecution, on 11 July this year, detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics section received information that a bus named Godzilla, travelling from South Africa to Bulawayo, was carrying a sack marked 2669/C/P BYO containing dagga.
The bus arrived at around 7:30PM and parked along Fife Street.
After passengers disembarked and goods were offloaded, the sack remained on the bus floor. Makonese arrived, collected the sack from Sibanda, and was later arrested. Ncube was subsequently arrested as well.
The 25 sachets of dagga were recorded in Form 390 in the presence of both accused and will be presented as evidence in court. The matter was postponed to Thursday (27 November 2025) for continuation of trial.
