adminChipinge Correspondent
A 19-YEAR-OLD Chipinge teenager was on Monday fined $100 after he was found in possession of mbanje.
Winston Muhau of Mwadzinga Village under Chief Muusha in Chimanimani pleaded guilty when he appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Sharon Chipanga, facing charges of unlawful possession of mbanje as defined in Section 157(1)a of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9:23.
He begged for mercy saying he smoked mbanje to treat stress.
Representing the State, Mr Brian Madzura said on May 16 at around 4pm, police detectives were on patrol in Chipinge town when they received a tip-off to the effect that Muhau was in possession of dagga. “At 5pm, police detectives made a follow-up and caught up with him at Dzonzayi Town Complex. They stopped Muhau and searched him. They found mbanje contained in a small plastic sachet,” said Mr Madzura.
He was subsequently arrested.
On May 18, detectives took the mbanje to Zimpost Chipinge where the mbanje was weighed.
“Your Worship, I smoke mbanje to do away with stress. I was about to do my Form 5 after getting “O” Level results and my mother told me she could not manage to pay school fees for me, so I had to smoke mbanje to get rid of stress,” he said.
Mrs Chipanga said the court was lenient with him because he pleaded guilty and did not waste its time. He was sentenced to three months in prison, wholly suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
He was ordered to pay a fine of $100 by June 30 or risk 30 days imprisonment.
Online Reporter