Soldier granted bail in US$22 000 mbanje haul

A Zimbabwe National Army soldier Speakmore Mhonda (39) has been granted bail by the High Court in Masvingo after he was arrested for alleged unlawful possession of 175kg of dagga worth US$22,000.

Justice Sunsley Zisengwe today granted Mhonda US$100 bail after he spent 19 days in remand prison.

Justice Zisengwe said that there are no compelling reasons to deny Mhonda bail. He stated that the State’s assertion that Mhonda is a flight risk is not enough to deny him bail. Zisengwe also noted that Mhonda had helped Police arrest suspected drug kingpin, Ali Allan Mamudu (53) after Mamudu fled from Masvingo.

Mhonda was denied bail earlier by Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzi, who considered him a flight risk after CID detectives testified that Mhonda fled from the scene and only stopped after warning shots were fired.

Mhonda’s bail conditions include not interfering with State witnesses, residing at 663 New Marimba, Harare, reporting once at Marimba Police Station every fortnight, and depositing US$100 with the Clerk of Court at Masvingo Magistrates Court.

The State, led by Mukai Mutumhe, opposed the granting of bail. Mhonda was represented by Tafadzwa Mbwachena of Ruvengo Maboke Legal Practitioners.

According to the State, Mhonda was transporting mbanje from Eswatini to Harare through the Beitbridge Border Post. After a bus carrying the consignment broke down in Masvingo, Mhonda drove a Nissan NV350 belonging to Mamudu to collect the dagga.

Acting on a tip-off, Police arrested Mhonda and Limbikani Mwanandi (35) as they were loading the mbanje into the commuter omnibus. Mamudu and two accomplices sped off in a South African registered VW Polo but were arrested two days later in Harare, after Mhonda gave Police Mamudu’s address.

Mamudu was later arrested by Military Police and handed over to Police officers at Marimba Police Station. Masvingo Mirror