…As they rescue their recently rehabilitated daughter from a known ‘drug dealer’
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-A family here recently blamed the local police over failure to heed to the national call to arrest identified drug dealers after their daughter openly implicated a popular figure (name withheld) for selling her mutoriro (Crystal meth).
Ridson Mupezeni, a businessman in Chiredzi is accusing local Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers for failing to properly handle the case where his daughter Eneles Mupezeni (26) was reportedly caught red handed at the alleged drug dear’s residence taking drugs.
In an interview Eneless Mupezeni who recently came back from rehabilitation at Ngomahuru after she had been affected by drugs, told this publication that they buy Mutoriro from the female drug lord at the cost of US$ 3 and they are even offered a room to sniff from.
“We are offered a room at her homestead to sniff from after we buy the drug from her. Less than 10 grams of Mutoriro costs US$ 3,” alleged Eneless.
His father said he is saddened by the fact that it cost him a lot to rehabilitate her daughter at Ngomahuru and is pained by the fact that someone, well known for dealing in drugs is left walking free after being caught red handed selling drugs to his daughter.
“On the 19th of March, my daughter Eneless who recently came back from Ngomahuru rehabilitation centre was seen in company of a lady (name withheld), a woman best known for selling drugs going to the drug peddler’s home. A neighbour alerted my wife who quickly responded by storming the peddler’s residence, though she was locked outside before she climbed the fence to rescue our daughter.
“(She) alerted my daughter to come out. With two other boys, my daughter came out speeding from the room they were taking drugs. The matter was then reported to the Police, where a senior detective (name withheld) openly told them that the peddler was untouchable therefore they were wasting their time pursuing the issue.
“I got to the police station to find out more, that is when I was referred to the Officer-In-Charge, Madam Ndava who also consulted her boss, Madam Muleya who ordered the peddler to be brought to the police station.
“The matter was later taken by I.C Crime Raki, who argued that the peddler can’t be arrested for selling my daughter drugs because there is no substantial evidence found, though I insisted that the court handled the matter. I was told that I should find somewhere to report my case if I insisted that a docket be opened for the case,” said Mupezeni.
In a telephone interview, the peddler admitted that she was once involved in drug dealing way back and that she did not sell drugs to Eneless, who in fact came to her house asking for US$ 20 change.
“No, I never sold any drugs to Eneless, in fact she came to my home asking for US$ 20 change which I didn’t have. I used to sell drugs long back but I am no longer doing that,” she said.
President Emerson Mnangagwa once said the police should arrest anyone found high on drugs to question him/her when they sober up on who sold them those drugs in order for the police to arrest them.
Most drug dealers in Chiredzi are reportedly dealing with some individual law enforcement agents who will later protect them for a fee, helping them evade police raids and arrests.
