Police arrested eight suspects in connection with the unlawful possession of dagga, crystal meth, and unregistered medicines in Harare and Beitbridge between March 2 and March 4, 2025.
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Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests on Wednesday, identifying the suspects as Mphakamiseni Dhlamini (41), Ishmael Chikara (35), Linda Jimu (26), Priviledge Muchenje (also known as Ndanatsei Muchenje, 39), Sylia Tanyanyiwa (41), Simbarashe Maenzanise (41), Siphelile Mashamba (33), and Alice Shatirwa (29).
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Nyathi added that the arrests led to the recovery of 151 kilogrammes of dagga, 260 bottles of 100 Broncleer Syrup, and a quantity of crystal meth yet to be determined. The bulk of the dagga was recovered at Beitbridge Border Post.
Nyathi issued a stern warning to individuals and groups involved in drug trafficking and peddling, saying the law would be enforced without fear or favour.

Pindula News

Eight people were arrested for having drugs in Harare and Beitbridge. They had dagga, crystal meth, and unregistered medicines. The police found 151 kilograms of dagga and 260 bottles of Broncleer Syrup. The suspects are facing consequences for their actions, with the police warning others involved in drug trafficking. The law will be enforced on anyone who breaks it.

Eight Arrested In Drug Bust Across Harare And Beitbridge

In Gokwe, Midlands Province, a village head reportedly mobilised villagers to prevent police officers from arresting his wife and two other individuals who were illegally cultivating mbanje (dagga/marijuana).
According to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/village-head-mobilises-against-cops/">The Herald</a>, the police had to resort to firing warning shots to disperse the crowd and apprehend Brian Kuruwa (36), Talkmore Muzondiwa (30), and Shylet Magigani (32) – all from Kuruwa Village under Chief Nemangwe’s jurisdiction. The trio had been illegally growing dagga along the banks of the Svisvi River.
The three accused persons have since appeared before a Gokwe magistrate, who convicted them of illegal marijuana cultivation and possession.
Kuruwa was sentenced to a total of four years imprisonment, with one year suspended on the condition of good behaviour.
Muzondiwa received a 24-month prison term, with eight months suspended, while Magigani was sentenced to three years’ incarceration.
The court was informed that during the arrest operation, Muzondiwa’s husband, Joseph Kuruwa (43), who serves as the village head, managed to flee from his home and subsequently mobilized other villagers to confront the police.
In response, the law enforcement officers were forced to fire warning shots to subdue the unruly crowd and apprehend the suspects.
Officer Commanding Midlands Police (Operations), Assistant Commissioner Martin Matambo told The Herald that police recovered 6,500 plants and 170kg of processed dagga.
He said police were alerted that some villagers were dealing in dangerous drugs and cultivating dagga in places along Svisvi River banks which are not easily accessible since it is mountainous.
Police officers went there and found Kuruwa busy watering the dagga plot. Said Asst. Comm. Matambo:
<blockquote>
He was arrested and 67 plants of dagga were uprooted from his plot. Subsequent investigations led the police to Muzondiwa’s residence where they recovered a sack of dried dagga.
</blockquote>
He said Magigani was also found at her homestead where they recovered three sacks of dagga from her bedroom hut.
It remains unclear whether the village head, Joseph Kuruwa, was arrested for his actions. However, his alleged mobilisation of villagers to interfere with the police operation is likely to result in him facing charges of obstructing the course of justice, as defined under Section 184 of Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Village Head Mobilises Villagers Against Police Officers

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) intercepted a South Africa-registered vehicle carrying 48kg of cannabis and a large quantity of the controlled Benylin Cough Syrup on Wednesday, April 03, in Beitbridge.
In a statement, the ZRP said the contraband was hidden in a false compartment of the Toyota Quantum trailer. Police said:
<blockquote>
On 03/04/24, Police acted on received information and recovered 2 668 x 100 mls Benylin Cough Syrup and 48 kilogrammes of loose dagga which were hidden in a false compartment of the Toyota Quantum trailer.
</blockquote>
In another development, police officers and officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), recovered 20 kilogrammes of dagga hidden in a Toyota Quantum vehicle at the Malume parking lot, Beitbridge Border Post on Sunday.
However, one of the vehicle’s crew, Michael Mkhokheli fled from the scene leaving his passport in the car. Said the Police:
<blockquote>
On 31/03/24, Police in Beitbridge in conjunction with ZIMRA officials recovered 20 kilogrammes of dagga, with a street value of ZWL$ 20 000 000, which was hidden in a Toyota Quantum vehicle at Malume parking lot, Beitbridge Border Post. One of the vehicle’s crew, Michael Mkhokheli fled from the scene leaving his passport in the car.
</blockquote>
Drug and substance abuse is a serious problem in Zimbabwe, particularly among the youth population. Commonly abused substances include alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and non-medicinal use of controlled medicines.
Shockingly, approximately 60% of patients admitted to mental health institutions suffer from drug-related issues. Drug dealers even exploit young street children to sell and distribute drugs in Harare.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZRP Intercept Large Mbanje, Cough Syrup Contraband At Beitbridge

Harare lawyer Tapiwanashe Mukandi has approached the Constitutional Court challenging the dismissal of his High Court application seeking the legalisation of and cultivation of marijuana (mbanje), reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200019961/lawyer-takes-mbanje-challenge-to-concourt">NewsDay</a>.
On 13 July 2023, Mukandi filed an application challenging laws that criminalise the possession, consumption as well as cultivation of cannabis in Zimbabwe.
The application was dismissed by High Court judge Justice Gladys Mhuri in a judgement delivered on 31 October.
Justice Mhuri ruled that cannabis has potentially harmful health effects if left unchecked.
In his ConCourt application filed on Tuesday this week, Mukandi argued that the High Court erred in its interpretation of the provisions of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Mukandi, through his lawyer Tererai Mafukidze instructed by Tapiwa Chivanga of Scanlen &amp; Holderness submitted to the court:
<blockquote>
The provisions of section 156(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) as read with the definition of ‘deal in’ in section 155 of the Criminal Law are inconsistent with sections 57, 56(1), and 52 of the Constitution and are constitutionally invalid only to the extent that they make the cultivation in a private place, use, or possession by an adult person for his or her own consumption in private a criminal offence.
</blockquote>
Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe were cited as respondents.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/countries-where-you-can-legally-consume-cannabis/spain/slideshow/101833256.cms">in 2013, Uruguay became the first country to legalise</a> the production, sale, and consumption of cannabis for recreational use.
Since then, countries such as Spain have allowed personal use and cultivation of cannabis in private spaces.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Lawyer Takes Marijuana Challenge To Constitutional Court

A motorist from Chiweshe reportedly panicked and fled a police roadblock in Glendale and left his car behind with 360g of marijuana on the block.
The motorist, Vitas Chigwanda (27), was later taken to Concession magistrates courts, where he appeared before magistrate Joshua Nembaware.
<h3>What Happened?</h3>
On July 13, the police stopped Chigwanda at the 40-kilometre peg along the Glendale-Chiweshe highway. Chigwanda panicked, disembarked from the car, and fled. The police searched the vehicle and found 360g of dagga. Chigwanda returned to the scene several hours later and was subsequently arrested. He was remanded in custody until July 17.
<h3>Growing, Possession and Use of Marijuana / Dagga / Mbanje in Zimbabwe</h3>
In Zimbabwe, the production, use, and possession of marijuana are strictly regulated by the government. While the use of marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes has been decriminalised, it is still illegal to grow, possess, or use marijuana for recreational (enjoyment/pleasure) purposes.
In 2018, the Zimbabwean government allowed for the legal production of industrial hemp, a strain of the cannabis plant that contains very low levels of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana. <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2020/09/19/marijuana-growing-regulations-gazetted/">Statutory Instrument 218 Agricultural Marketing Authority (Industrial Hemp) Regulations</a>, gazetted in 2018 by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Anxious Masuka, does not legalise the production or use of marijuana for recreational purposes, as the use of marijuana for non-medical purposes remains illegal in Zimbabwe.
SI 218 provides for three types of permits for growers, namely general growers’, research and breeding, and industrial hemp merchant’s permits. 
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Motorist Flees Leaving Car With Marijuana At A Police Roadblock

Two police officers recently descended a flight of stairs in terror at Iminyela Flats in Iminyela suburb at the home of a traditional healer after an eerie voice thundered in their ears.
The two Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers had been sent to arrest the traditional healer, Thamsanqa Mutisi (35), for allegedly cultivating marijuana in his backyard garden.
The incident occurred at the crack of dawn on 6 January 2023.
It is alleged that when the two detectives approached the witch doctor, there was a misunderstanding between the two parties.
The cops demanded that Mutisi should accompany them to the police station and he felt disrespected.
A neighbour who had been awoken by the noise told B-Metro that she witnessed the incident through a partially open door. She said:
<blockquote>
Suddenly, Ukhulu (as Mutisi is popularly known) appeared to have gone into a trance.
His ancestors spoke through him in a deep rumbling voice that scared the pants off the policemen.
He waved his rod at them and the guttural voice told them lightning would strike them dead on the spot if they continued harassing Ukhulu.
</blockquote>
The witness claimed that the police officers took to their heels and descended the stairs with haste. She said:
<blockquote>
Like deflating balloons, they repeatedly bumped into each other in random and uncoordinated movement in a desperate attempt to get to the door.
With eyes popping in fear the cops squeezed through the door and flew down the steps.
I could hear them screaming piercingly as they shot down the stairs behind me. It is a miracle they did not fall down and get badly injured.
Once outside, they streaked away in different directions, probably to regroup at the police station after getting over the shock.
</blockquote>
After a few hours, several police officers came to the traditional healer’s flat. Said another neighbour:
<blockquote>
The new squad humbled themselves and respectfully asked Ukhulu for permission to arrest him.
He forwarded their request to his ancestral spirits, who granted the request.
</blockquote>
It is further alleged that Mutisi then led the cops to three marijuana plants which were well maintained and measured 20 centimetres, 35 centimetres and 90 centimetres, respectively, in his garden.
The detectives uprooted the plants and took them to CID Drugs and Narcotics and took Mutisi to Western Commonage Police Station.
Mutisi appeared before Western Commonage Court resident magistrate shepherd Mnjanja facing a charge of planting dagga.
He pleaded guilty to the charge but said the plants belonged to his ancestors who had instructed him to grow them for healing purposes.
Mutasa, who is being represented by Tinashe Dzipe of Morris Davies and Co Law firm, was remanded out of custody to 18 January 2023 on $30 000 bail. | <a href="https://www.bmetro.co.zw/bulawayo-cops-flee-ganja-farming-ancestral-spirits/">B-Metro</a>

Two Cops Flee Marijuana Farming Traditional Healer

A Bulawayo man was rushed to the hospital after a small pack of dagga/mbanje he had swallowed got stuck in his throat as police detectives closed in on him.
Prosecutors told the court that detectives received a tip-off that Shadreck Marumure (37) was selling dagga at his home in the Entumbane suburb.
The detectives descended on Marumure’s home last week on Friday at around 4 AM to conduct investigations.
Upon seeing the detectives, Marumure allegedly reached for a pack of dagga that he had placed on the chair in his bedroom and tried to swallow it.
Unfortunately, the packet got stuck in his throat and choked him, forcing him to cough persistently.
It is further alleged that the detectives got suspicious and tried to force him to spit it but he could not as it was firmly stuck in his throat.
When the detectives searched the house, they found two small packs wrapped in Marumure’s underwear while hidden under his mattress and they arrested him.
They rushed him to Mpilo Central Hospital where health staff managed to remove the pack that was stuck in his throat.
It is estimated that the recovered dagga has a street value of ZWL$247 500.
Marumure appeared for trial before Western Commonage Courts magistrate Shepherd Mjanja facing a charge of selling mbanje.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody to Monday next week for continuation of trial. | <a href="https://www.bmetro.co.zw/cornered-drug-peddler-swallows-mbanje-and-chokes/">B-Metro</a>

Cornered Drug Seller Swallows Mbanje

The first marijuana crop is being harvested in Zimbabwe after the government decriminalised the cultivation of industrial hemp, Sunday Mail reports.
According to  Z<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Industrial_Hemp_Trust">imbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust</a> (ZIHT)’s Dr Zorodzai Maroveke:
<blockquote>We have been harvesting the industrial hemp and so far we have sent some tests to the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/University_of_Zimbabwe">University of Zimbabwe</a> to check for chemical components.
We are now doing data collection and trials on the European varieties that we planted. We have since realised that the performance has been very poor on three of the European varieties, and only two performed really well.
We are also looking forward to planting and testing indigenous seeds from places such as<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Binga"> Binga</a>. We recently got a nod from Government to test indigenous seeds.</blockquote>
According to the publication, ZIHT planted 5 varieties of mbanje from European industrial cannabis at Harare Central Prison’s 10-hectare plot.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/first-mbanje-crop-harvested">The Herald </a>

Zimbabwe Harvests First Weed Crop

Government  has approved 37 investors who have shown interest to produce cannabis (mbanje or dagga) for medicinal or scientific purposes.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos said Government was overwhelmed by applications with more than 200 foreign and local investors showing interest to venture into production of cannabis in Zimbabwe. Haritatos said this while addressing chief executives at the 6th Africa Round Table forum recently. Said Haritatos:
<blockquote>In the last few months, more than 200 local and foreign companies have shown interest in venturing into medical cannabis production. Cabinet has approved about 37 of them and they will be issued with licences. For now we are in the process of registering them.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/government-approves-37-mbanje-investors/">Chronicle</a>
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Govt Approves 37 Mbanje Investors

The government has gazetted Statutory Instrument (SI 178/2018) which will amend the Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use) Regulations gazetted earlier this year. <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/04/30/licence-to-produce-mbanje-at-50-000/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The original application fee for a licence to produce cannabis (mbanje) was  $50 000</a> but this has now been reduced to an application fee of $10 000. However, if the application is approved, the actual licence fee for the production of mbanje is $40 000.
The Statutory Instrument also designated the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport as the only permitted port of entry or exit for cannabis and cannabis products.
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Application Fee For Licence To Produce Mbanje Reduced To $10 000

Speaking to 263Chat on the side-lines of the Africa Investment Hub launch in the capital today, deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Terrence Mukupe said over 150 people have applied for marijuana (mbanje) production licence.
Mukupe said this is likely to have been fueled by the misconception that people will be allowed to grow mbanje in their backyard. Said Mukupe:
<blockquote>People who submitted the applications have surpassed 150 and more applications are still coming in on a day to day basis but there is a misconception in the public that you are going to be allowed to grow mbanje in your back yard, it’s never going to work like that.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://263chat.com/scramble-for-mbanje-production-licence/">263Chat</a>

Over 150 People Apply For Mbanje Licence

Members of Parliament have called on the government to reduce the licence fees for growing cannabis (mbanje) saying they are too prohibitive. <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/04/30/licence-to-produce-mbanje-at-50-000/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">In order to farm mbanje one needs a $50 000 licence.</a> The members also highlighted that the fee disadvantages communities which were already growing mbanje illegally as they cannot afford the fees. Binga was given as an example.
Uzumba MP Simbaneuta Mudarikwa said,
<blockquote>… if people are growing tobacco and are not paying any licence fees, then people should not pay $50 000 for producing cannabis because it will be exported for foreign currency.</blockquote>
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi responded with
<blockquote>…there is a pilot project for us to farm industrial cannabis, which is going to assist the nation, but recreational cannabis is not allowed.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/05/mps-want-mbanje-fees-reduced/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewsDay</a>

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