The ManicaPost
Kudzai Matanga
A Rusape man will do unpaid work after he was found guilty of growing 79 plants of dagga in his garden without a licence.
Chamunorwa Kudzowa (41) of Muswati Village under Chief Makoni appeared before magistrate Mr Obedience Matare facing charges of contravening Section 157 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9.23 which criminalises the unlawful cultivation of dagga.
He did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty to the charge.
Mr Matare sentenced him to eight months’ in jail, four were suspended on condition of good behaviour while the remaining four were commuted to community service at St Theresa’s High School.
Public prosecutor Ms Ivy Mayimbo told the court that on January 31 this year at around 9am Constable Frank Badza of ZRP Rusape Rural received a tip-off that the suspect was cultivating dagga in his garden.
“Acting on the tip-off, Constable Badza teamed up with Constable Mashingaidze and proceeded to Muswati Village and found 79 plants of dagga with an average height of two metres in his garden,” said Ms Mayimbo.
