Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
A TRAINEE police officer at Ntabazinduna training depot is in hot water after being caught with a stash of dagga and crystal meth.
Prince Chavaraka appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba charged with contravening section 157 (1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act. He pleaded not guilty but had to cough up US$100 bail before being remanded out of custody to 2 October for trial.
Court papers revealed that on 19 September, shortly after 6PM while eating supper at the training depot canteen, Chavaraka was searched by his instructor Liberty Manyiwa. The search allegedly uncovered two twists of dagga and a small sachet of crystal meth hidden on his person.
The drugs were confiscated and are now being held as exhibits for the upcoming trial.
The trainee officer’s dream of wearing the badge has hit an early speed bump, and colleagues are said to be shocked by the scandal.
The incident has left the depot buzzing as recruits and instructors try to make sense of how someone in training to uphold the law ended up breaking it in such dramatic fashion.
The trial will commence on 2 October, and all eyes are on Chavaraka to see if he can dodge a criminal conviction or if his police dreams are officially smoked.
