Zaka Teacher Jailed After Dagga, Crystal Meth Found In Home

A teacher who is part of an apostolic sect turned his school staff quarters into a drug den. He has been jailed for eight months after police found dagga in his pocket, more dagga under his sofa, and crystal meth hidden in his bedroom wardrobe.

The teacher, Shadreck Chitsama (47), caused a stir on social media after his arrest. He appeared before Zaka Magistrate Grace Tupiri on Thursday, 28 May 2026.

He faced two charges: having dagga without permission under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, and having crystal meth under the Medicines and Allied Control Act.

Magistrate Tupiri found him guilty on both charges.

For the first charge, he was given four months in jail. Two months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.

For the second charge, he was given eight months. Two months were suspended for five years on the same condition.

The sentences will run one after the other. That means he will serve eight months in jail.

Prosecutor Davyson Mavenga told the court that police from ZRP Zaka acted on a tip-off. At around 1 pm on 12 May 2026, they went to Jinjika Secondary School.

They met Chitsama on the way. They introduced themselves and showed him a search warrant. Mavenga told the court that Chatsama read it and understood.

When they searched him, they found a sachet of dagga in his left pocket. He was arrested on the spot.

Chitsama then took the officers and the school’s deputy head, John Chigavakava, to his house in the staff quarters.

In the living room, they found another sachet of dagga under the second sofa from the door.

While searching a pile of shoes near the electricity meter, his wife, Learnmore Gondo, found loose dagga wrapped in black plastic. Police took it.

The court also heard that two sachets of crystal meth were found in a black monarch bag in the main bedroom. Empty sachets were found in the wardrobe.

Another sachet of crystal meth was found under the third sofa from the door. The drugs were taken to Jerera ZimPost to be weighed.

The court heard that Chitsama had no permit or licence to have the drugs.