By Decide Nhendo
Luck ran out for a Masvingo man who was found by police watering seven plants of mbanje plants in his maize field in the stream bank behind Francis Aphiri Primary School in Runyararo West high-density suburb.
The accused Vitalis Maturure (51) from Victoria Ranch, was found guilty of the charge of dealing in dangerous drugs and was sentenced to an effective five months imprisonment by Masvingo Magistrate Linnet Mudzingo after three months were suspended on condition that he does not commit the same offense for next five years.
Sentencing him, Mudzingo said she could not spare him a custodial sentence because of the number of plants he was found in possession of.
“I heard your plea in mitigation, but the weight of dagga you was found in possession of is too much and the law stipulates that if one is found in possession of three or more plants must be given a custodial sentence, and you had seven plants which means you cannot escape custodial sentence,” Mudzingo said.
The court heard that on February 22 police were on patrol around 1230hrs and received information to the effect that the accused person was cultivating mbanje in his maize field which is located on the stream bank behind Francis Aphiri Primary School.
The police reacted swiftly to the information and went to Maturure’s maize field where upon arrival they managed to locate him in the field watering plants.
They introduced themselves and requested to see the license permitting Maturure to cultivate mbanje plants which he did not produce.
It is also alleged that police officers inspected the maize field and discovered that seven mbanje plants were growing among maize plants. They arrested him and asked him to uproot his seven plants.
Maturure was escorted to Chikato police station with his plants.
Tarisai Muvengi prosecuted.
