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Sheillah Mapani Herald Reporter
A 22-YEAR-OLD Midlands State University student will perform 210 hours of community service at ZRP Senga Gweru for smoking dagga and escaping from custody. Tinashe Usinabadza appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Nomsa Sabarauta charged with use of dangerous drugs and escaping from lawful custody. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, six months were suspended on condition that he doesn’t commit any offence for the next three years and the remaining six months were commuted to community service.

In passing sentence Ms Sabarauta indicated that the court has been lenient with Usinabadza since he was a first time offender. She noted that the community service is a way of disciplining him and warning other students against taking drugs, which is a punishable offence. The prosecutor Rufaro Chatora proved that on September 23 Usinabadza was arrested in Mbare for smoking dagga. He was taken to Harare Central police station where he escaped from custody. In his defence Usinabadza pleaded not guilty to both offences and pleaded with the court to allow him to go home so that he could submit his school project.

“I am innocent. I did not commit the alleged offences. Please allow me to go home today because I am a student. If I fail to submit my school project by Wednesday I will not be able to graduate,” he lamented.