George Maponga in Masvingo
Police here on Sunday impounded over 100kg of mbanje stashed in sacks at a roadblock along the Masvingo-Mutare highway.
The sacks containing 103kg of dagga were hidden in a Bulawayo-bound Toyota Vitz when curious police officers manning a roadblock along the highway discovered them.
Acting Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa yesterday said they suspected that the dagga was smuggled into the country from Mozambique.
It is believed the dagga was destined for Botswana.
Assistant Inspector Dhewa said the dagga had a street value of US$10 000.
“We managed to arrest the driver of the Toyota Vitz, who tried to flee after police discovered that he was carrying mbanje that was covered by a blanket in his vehicle. Two other male occupants who were in the vehicle, however made good their escape and we are still looking for them,’’ he said.
He said the driver would appear in court soon facing charges of illegally possessing dagga.
In a separate incident, police last Friday arrested Cemes Magushu (35) and his wife Esina Mupari (44) of Mapala village in Mazetese communal lands in Mwenezi for growing mbanje in their garden.
He said about 80 mbanje plants measuring between 45cm and 270cm were found in the couple’s garden.
“Police received a tip-off that the couple was growing mbanje in their garden and swooped on them and uprooted the plants, which were taken to Mwenezi police station,’’ said Assistant Inspector Dhewa. The Herald
