The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa : Weekender Correspondent
IN A bid to evade being caught on the other side of the law, a Chikanga alleged mbanje dealer told the court that he was a football player and the dangerous substance helped him in focusing on the game.Munyaradzi Muyambo (23) was convicted on his own guilty plea to the charge of being found in unlawful possession of mbanje as defined in Section 157(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
He appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira, while Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
Allegations were that on August 17, detectives on patrol received a tip-off that Muyambo was dealing in mbanje.
Acting upon the tip-off, the detectives proceeded to Muyambo’s house where they carried out a body search on him and found one sachet in his pockets.
After searching his bedroom, they also found 49 satchets in a plastic bag in his wardrobe.
“Your Worship, I am a football player and my focus is needed at any given time. Since I usually loses focus easily, I started taking mbanje. I do not sell it, but it is for my own personal consumption as I can not live without it,” he said.
Asked on where he got the dangerous substance, Muyambo told the court that he had bought it from his Mozambican supplier. “Your Worship, I am addicted because I am a football player and cannot play without taking the substance. I need the mbanje for my focus, I do not want to lose focus on my game,” he begged the court that he be given back his mbanje.
Muyambo, however, was remanded in custody to yesterday (Thursday) for sentencing, as the State wanted to check whether he has previous convictions.
