The Beitbridge Regional Magistrates Court has sentenced a 35-year-old soldier to prison after he was convicted of attempting to smuggle marijuana into South Africa through the Beitbridge border.
Sikelela Ndlovu, who is stationed in Harare but resides in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, received a 48-month prison sentence.
However, Magistrate Charity Maphosa suspended 18 months of the sentence on condition of good behaviour for five years, leaving him with an effective 30-month jail term.
His co-accused, Clifford Murungweni, aged 21 and from Beitbridge, was acquitted after a full trial.
The court also ordered that the seized marijuana be forfeited to the State.
Prosecutor Mercy Nyathi told the court that the incident occurred shortly after midnight on March 10 at the Old Bridge illegal crossing point near the border.
Police officers on patrol reportedly intercepted Ndlovu and Murungweni as they walked from the Zimbabwean side toward South Africa carrying two black suitcases.
According to the State, Ndlovu fled the scene after security officers stopped them, abandoning one of the suitcases while Murungweni remained behind.
A search of the luggage allegedly uncovered 20 transparent packs containing a total of 80 packets of marijuana.
Murungweni was arrested immediately and taken to the CID Drugs section together with the recovered contraband.
The court heard that later that morning, Murungweni’s sister allegedly persuaded Ndlovu to return to the border area, where police arrested him upon arrival.
Authorities said the recovered marijuana weighed 13.522 kilograms and had an estimated street value of US$1,352.20.
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