The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A 43-YEAR-OLD Chipinge man was recently imprisoned for four years after 795 mbanje plants he was cultivating at his homestead were uprooted by detectives.
Solomon Mlambo Makiwa of Makumba Village under Chief Mapungwana appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Alfred Chinembiri, charged with unlawfully dealing in drugs as defined in Section 156 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
He pleaded guilty.
Prosecuting, Mr Timothy Katsande said detectives received information that Makiwa was cultivating mbanje at his homestead.
“An investigating team reacted to the tip-off and proceeded to Makumba Village. Upon arrival at Makiwa’s homestead, they found the accused’s daughter who indicated that her father was away. The detectives located Makiwa at Mabeure Village and arrested him before he led them to his homestead were 795 mbanje plants were uprooted,” said Mr Katsande.
The mbanje plants were measured, said Mr Katsande, with the longest measuring 3,7 metres and the shortest 2,8 metres.
Mr Chinembiri suspended one year of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.
