Clearing agent sucked into mbanje saga

HARARE – A clearing agent at Nyamapanda Border Post has been sucked into the mbanje saga after allegedly conniving with the truck driver in facilitating entry of the Malawi registered truck carrying 2400kg of mbanje worth US$240 000 into the country.

Tichaona Chimutsanya, 33 appeared in court jointly charged with Akidu Iweni Mukunda, 37 the truck driver facing allegations of dealing in dangerous drugs.

The two were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe. They were remanded in custody to Tuesday for their bail application.

It is the state’s case that on January 12 Chimutsanya and Mukunda acting in connivance with their four accomplices, who are still at large, transported 41 bags of dagga from Malawi for resale in the country.

State counsel Junior Mugebe alleged that the two stashed the mbanje under Hessian bags on the pretext they were delivering bags for tobacco packing. Allegations are that Chimutsanya facilitated the passing of the truck through the Nyamapanda Border Post without it being checked by security.

The court heard that a Mukumba drove to Harare where he met his accomplices at Chisipite toll gate before they were joined by Chimutsanya. It is the State’s case that the gang drove to Washaya garage in Aspindale where they started offloading the dagga into their vehicles, a commuter omnibus and a taxi.

Further allegations are that when they were confronted by officers from Southerton police while still offloading the illegal drug they sped off the scene and some took to their heels by scaling over security walls: The police reportedly gave chase and managed to nab Mukumba who then implicated Chimutsanya.