The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata
Senior Reporter
A HARARE drug peddler who uses intercity buses to transport dagga from Chipinge to the capital city was lured by crafty detectives in Mutare to come and collect his “lost” consignment, leading to his arrest.
The detectives devised the plan to arrest Mwaparadza Mutize (39) of Derbyshire, Waterfalls in Harare after the dagga was intercepted at a roadblock by traffic cops.
Unknowing that he was falling into a trap, Mutize who was so eager to recover the contraband travelled from Harare and presented himself to detectives who had disguised themselves as barbers.
Detectives pounced on him as soon as he took possession of the bag full of dagga.
Mutare Criminal Investigations Department spokesperson, Detective Sergeant Coleen Mbato, confirmed Mutize’s arrest after police intercepted the dagga on September 12.
“On the day in question, ZRP Mutare traffic police officers and detectives from CID Mutare who were manning a roadblock at Christmas Pass conducted a search in a Harare-bound bus. The bus was coming from Chipinge.
“They managed to recover one big red bag containing four plastic bags of dagga from the bus luggage box. They interviewed the driver and the conductor who professed ignorance about ownership of the bag.
“They said the bag was loaded into the bus by rank marshals in Chipinge. The cops seized the dagga and the bus left for Harare,” he said.
However, on arrival in Harare, the bus driver was approached by the suspect claiming the bag.
“The bus driver lied to Mutize that the bag might have been offloaded by someone along the way. The driver took Mutize’s contact details including his phone number and promised to compensate him for the loss.
“The following day, the dagga was handed over to CID Drugs and Narcotics Section who contacted the bus driver and interviewed him. The driver gave detectives the contact details of the suspect who was looking for the bag,” he said.
Detective Sergeant Mbato said detectives managed to get in touch with Mutize and lured him to come and collect his lost bag in Mutare.
“At around 6pm, the suspect informed the detectives that he had arrived in Mutare. Detectives advised him to meet them at a hair salon (name withheld) pretending to be barbers.
“Mutize identified himself on arrival at the hair salon. Mutize was handed over the bag and was advised to open it so that he could account for his goods, but he refused to do so.
‘‘He took the bag and left. He was intercepted and arrested by other detectives.
“He was taken to Mutare Central Police Station where he was interviewed. He implicated one Besina Maposa from Chipinge as the supplier of the dagga. He revealed that Maposa supplies the dagga to various drug dealers in Harare,” said Detective Sergeant Mbato.
Mwaparadza is facing charges of contravening Section 157 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 which criminalises the possession of dangerous drugs.
