Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A 52-year-old man was last week convicted at the Magistrates’ Court for growing dagga in his field.
Mutema Makombe of village 6A Mufula Ranch under Chief Chitanga was convicted on his own plea of guilty for contravening section 156 (1)(b) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 “Unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs”.
He told the court that dagga gave him a livelihood.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment of which four months were conditionally suspended.
The court heard that sometime last year during the start of the rainy season, Makombe planted some mbanje but on December 28 last year, police detectives received a tip on Makombe’s dealings.
Upon conducting a search at Makombe’s homestead, police detectives found ten mbanje plants that were planted in the nearby field.
The plants were measured in Makombe’s presence and they measured between 49 cm and one metre long.
Willard Chasi prosecuted.local
