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Court Reporter
AN Epworth woman was yesterday jailed for two years and eight months after she was convicted of possessing 21kg of Mbanje worth over US$2 000. Magistrate Ms Blessing Murwisi convicted Catherine Mungate (38) of possessing and dealing in dangerous drugs. Ms Murwizi sentenced Mungate to 36 months in prison but suspended four on condition she does not commit a similar offence. Prosecutor Patience Chimusaru said Mungate committed a serious offence.

“Although the accused is a female first offender, she had started at the deep end of crime. The accused was now a danger to society as the dagga is usually supplied to youthful offenders,” she said.

Ms Chimusaru said on March 21 detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics received information that Mungate was dealing in drugs. They picked Mungate at the Harare Magistrates’ Court and quizzed her. She led the detectives to her house in Epworth where 25 plastic bags containing Mbanje were recovered.

Mungate was arrested and taken to Epworth Police Station. The recovered dagga weighed 21 kilogrammes.
Meanwhile, two Penhalonga men were arrested for allegedly cultivating 27 dagga plants in their gardens in Penhalonga, Manicaland, on Saturday.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda yesterday identified the men as Misheck Man’ara (57) and Peter Newengo (72) — both of Museve Village under Chief Mutasa.

Asst Insp Chananda said the two were assisting police with investigations and would appear in court soon.
Police received a tip-off from the public that the two were growing dagga at their homes.

This prompted them to raid the men’s houses, where they found 1,52kg of dagga at Man’ara’s residence.
He also had 22 plants of the prohibited drug, measuring about 2,2m tall each, in his garden. After arresting Man’ara, police went to Newengo’s homestead and found five plants about 1,2m tall each in his garden.