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Man tells court mbanje protects him from goblins
17 Nov 2013 at 03:59hrs | Views
A 33-year-old Epworth man stunned the Harare Magistrates' Court on Firday when he claimed that he cannot survive without cannabis (mbanje) as the drug helps in protecting him from goblins and evil spirits.
Passmore Zariro claimed that the 266 grammes of dagga he was found in possession of was for spiritual purposes as he occasionally sprinkles it into his bath water as well as petroleum jelly.
Zariro claimed that he got the dagga from a traditional healer he identified as Mafuratidze whom he consulted after being allegedly attacked by goblins.
Mafuratidze, he said, ordered him to use dagga as a shield against attacks from goblins and evil spirits.
"Imwe ndotoita yekukuya ndozora, imwe ndoita yekufukira iri mumbiya hombe, saka kuti ndifambe nhasi uno imbanje iyoyo (I apply some of the dagga on my skin while some I inhale when it's burning in a plate. I am alive today because of this mbanje,)" said Zariro.
Despite his passionate pleas for mercy, magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa found Zariro guilty of contravening section 157 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act. Mrs Mugwagwa noted that Zariro had failed to produce documents that show that he uses mbanje for medicinal purposes and ordered him to pay a US$60 fine or face 10 days behind bars.
Prosecutor Lovemore Magagene told the court that on Monday last week detectives from the Criminal Intelligence Unit at Highlands Police Station received information that Zariro was in possession of prohibited drugs.
Acting upon the information, detectives proceeded to the accused's address, searched him and recovered 266 grammes of dagga.
Passmore Zariro claimed that the 266 grammes of dagga he was found in possession of was for spiritual purposes as he occasionally sprinkles it into his bath water as well as petroleum jelly.
Zariro claimed that he got the dagga from a traditional healer he identified as Mafuratidze whom he consulted after being allegedly attacked by goblins.
Mafuratidze, he said, ordered him to use dagga as a shield against attacks from goblins and evil spirits.
"Imwe ndotoita yekukuya ndozora, imwe ndoita yekufukira iri mumbiya hombe, saka kuti ndifambe nhasi uno imbanje iyoyo (I apply some of the dagga on my skin while some I inhale when it's burning in a plate. I am alive today because of this mbanje,)" said Zariro.
Despite his passionate pleas for mercy, magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa found Zariro guilty of contravening section 157 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act. Mrs Mugwagwa noted that Zariro had failed to produce documents that show that he uses mbanje for medicinal purposes and ordered him to pay a US$60 fine or face 10 days behind bars.
Prosecutor Lovemore Magagene told the court that on Monday last week detectives from the Criminal Intelligence Unit at Highlands Police Station received information that Zariro was in possession of prohibited drugs.
Acting upon the information, detectives proceeded to the accused's address, searched him and recovered 266 grammes of dagga.
Source - Sunday Mail
