The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
and Tendai Gukutikwa
A NYAZURA man who was in the business of illegally growing marijuana learnt the hard way after he was slapped with a five-year jail term.
Nyasha Nyamukomba (33) of Dzuda Village was found with 270 plants of marijuana in his garden.
He will serve four effective years after Rusape magistrate, Ms RufaroMangwiro, suspended one year on condition of good behaviour. When he appeared in court, Nyamukomba did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty to the offence. He went on to ask for leniency.
Prosecuting, Mr Tawanda Munjanja said Nyamukomba was found with marijuana plants weighing 12,1kgin his garden.
“On October 26, police received a tip-off that Nyamukomba was growing marijuana in his garden. Police reacted to the tip-off and proceeded to his homestead. “Upon questioning him, Nyamukomba admitted that he was growing the marijuana in his garden. He led the police to his garden, where 270 plants were uprooted.
“The marijuana had an average height of 2,1 metres,” said Mr Munjanja.
Meanwhile, a Chiadzwa bar tender was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment for possessing 1,5kg of marijuana.
Initially, the bar tender, Prince Musara (20), was alleged to have been in possession of 1.5 tonnes of marijuana worth US$2 million in the court papers, but after verification, it emerged that he had 1.5kg of the dangerous substance.
Mutare magistrate, Ms Nyasha Kuture last Friday sentenced Musara to 20 months imprisonment, of which 16 months were suspended on condition he commits 560 hours of community service at Dangamvura Primary School.
The remaining eight months were suspended for the next five years on condition of good behaviour.
Musara hails from Tonhorai Village in Marange and was employed as a bar tender at Mashukashuka Business Centre in Chiadzwa. He was arrested after the police received a tip-off from his employer who had made a surprise visit to his bar, only to discover the marijuana in the store-room.
Police trapped Musara at his workplace and recovered the 1.5kg of marijuana from the bar’s back room. Musara admitted that he was the owner of the marijuana.
Mr Brian Goto prosecuted.
