Beverly Bizeki
A 77-year-old man from Mushagashe was sentenced to 12 months behind bars by a Masvingo magistrate after being found guilty of cultivating and being in found in possession of dagga on June 7, 2023.
Aaron Pedzisai pleaded guilty and told magistrate Conceptor Ngwerume that the he was selling dagga to eke out a living so as to be able to take care of his grandchildren left behind by his deceased children.
It was the state case as presented by Prosecutor P Tichava that on October 16, 2022 the accused was found in possession of dagga plants in his field as well as dagga twists in his fowl run.
It is reported that on the given day, police officers patrolling in the Zimuto area received a tip off to the effect that the accused person was cultivating dagga in the garden at his homestead.
The police officers visited the place and found 14 plants of dagga measuring between 32 centimeters and 132 centimeters planted in the garden weighing 1 kilogram.
A further search by the police led to the team recovering two large twists of dagga stashed on the roof of a fowl run at his homestead leading to the arrest of the accused.
