Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
TWO men who were arrested after being found in possession of cough syrup drugs worth US$89 750 have been acquitted.
Lungani Ndlovu (44), of Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo, and Hebert Kazembe (40), of Waterfalls in Harare, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Taurayi Manuwere for judgment and were acquitted.
In acquitting them, Mr Manuwere said: “The investigating officer, in her testimony, stated that they discovered unregistered medicines being loaded from an unidentified trailer into a Nissan Caravan.
However, the trailer was not handed over to the Exhibit Officer. Furthermore, another witness spoke of having recovered two vehicles and told this court that the vehicles were taken to Harare. Sadly, only one vehicle got to Harare. There is no explanation as to what happened to the other vehicle and its contents.”
The magistrate noted that the police officer who issued exhibits was not called to testify in court.
In conclusion, Mr Manuwere said: “There is evidence that the accused person does not stay at the Selbourne address. There was also no evidence to prove who owned the vehicles, which were loaded with illicit substance.”
He also said the illicit substance was not tendered in court, and the motor vehicles or the trailer were not produced in court.
The pair were represented by lawyer Goodluck Katenaire of Katenaire Mbeure Law Chambers.
Prosecutor, Mr Owen Mugari told the court that on 30 August 2025, at around 6PM, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics, Harare, picked up intelligence that accused number one was using Mphoengs Border Post to smuggle drugs from South Africa into Zimbabwe via Botswana.
Armed with the information, detectives proceeded to Mphoengs Border Post in a bid to intercept the consignment.
“Upon reaching Maphisa area in Matabeleland South Province, detectives further picked up information that the accused had already crossed into Zimbabwe with the drugs destined for Bulawayo.
“Detectives managed to track the accused and found him at a house in Bulawayo’s Selbourne Park suburb. The accused had packed the unregistered cough syrups into a white Nissan Caravan,” said Mr Mugari.
Mr Mugari told the court that detectives introduced themselves to the accused and informed him of the purpose of their visit.
“A search was carried out in the vehicle, leading to the seizure of 465 boxes containing 30 × 100 ml bottles of Astra cough syrup, 23 boxes containing 48 × 100 ml bottles of Benylin cough syrup, 40 boxes containing 50 × 100 ml bottles of
Broncleer cough syrup, and 13 boxes containing 50 × 100 ml bottles of Stilpane cough syrup.
“Ndlovu was arrested and later indicated that he was just a transporter who had been sent to deliver the consignment in Harare by Kazembe. Ndlovu assisted the detectives in arresting Kazembe,” said Mr Mugari.
An exhibit seizure confirmation receipt, serial number 0168843, was issued to the accused persons. The unregistered medicines and motor vehicle are held as exhibits and can be produced in court as evidence.
The unregistered consignment is valued at US$89,750
