Five men accused of unlawfully possessing and transporting a large consignment of dagga appeared before the Western Commonage Magistrates’ Court in Bulawayo on...
Five men accused of unlawfully possessing and transporting a large consignment of dagga appeared before the Western Commonage Magistrates’ Court in Bulawayo on Monday, where the matter was postponed pending the completion of a forensic analysis of the substance.
The accused are Gordon Nkowu (58), Nkosiyabo Moyo (57), Shepherd Nkomo (43), Beven Sibanda (40) and Isaiah Moyo (31). They are facing charges of unlawful possession and transportation of dagga.
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According to the State, the five men were intercepted along the Bulawayo–Solusi Road while travelling in a vehicle that was towing a trailer. Prosecutors allege that the trailer was carrying a large quantity of loose dagga.
The court heard that authorities recovered 360 kilogrammes of the suspected dagga from the vehicle. The seized consignment has an estimated street value of ZiG10.8 million, according to the prosecution.
Prosecutors further alleged that the consignment had been smuggled into Zimbabwe from South Africa through Botswana before being intercepted by law enforcement authorities.
During court proceedings, the State advised the court that investigations into the matter were still ongoing. Prosecutors said a forensic report confirming the exact nature of the seized substance had not yet been completed.
The forensic examination is expected to determine whether the recovered material is indeed dagga. The findings are likely to form an important part of the State’s case as the matter progresses through the courts.
Because the forensic report is still outstanding, the court was unable to proceed with further stages of the case. The State requested additional time to complete investigations and obtain the necessary scientific evidence.
Following submissions by the prosecution, the magistrate postponed the matter to June 10. The next court appearance is expected to allow investigators to present the forensic findings and provide an update on the progress of the case.
The five accused persons remain in custody while legal processes continue. The court was informed that their bail application has not yet been determined.
The case has attracted attention due to the large quantity of the suspected drug involved and its estimated street value. Authorities continue to investigate the alleged transportation route and circumstances surrounding the seizure.
The matter is expected to return to court next week when the forensic report is presented and further proceedings take place.
