Shebeen queen nabbed with drugs

RAISING money through the sale of mbanje and illicit brews landed a Dangamvura shebeen queen in trouble after she was arrested last week.Lillian Jinga (49) was convicted on her own plea of guilty when she appeared before senior Mutare magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura on Monday. She was dragged to court after being found in possession of mbanje and Zero whisky at her ''business'' premises.

For her offence, Jinga was made to pay a fine of $100 on both counts or face two months behind bars.

The court heard that on January 10, after a tip-off was made to a policeman on duty, Constable Malvern Mhonda, that Jinga was selling mbanje at her house in Federation section of Dangamvura, he (Cst Mhonda) proceeded there and searched the house.

Cst Mhonda recovered 56,6 grams of mbanje.

Further investigations led Cst Mhonda to recover 33 x 200ml bottles of the illegal Zero whisky.

Mr Donald Mudarirwa appeared for the State.

Asked by Mrs Chiundura why she had committed the offence, Jinga said she knew very well that what she was doing was illegal.

"Your Worship, I know that the business I was doing is illegal, but that is how I earn a living. I have five children that I take care of and my husband is not employed, so I will be trying to make ends meet," she said.

However, the magistrate did not buy her story and ordered her to pay the fine by today (Friday).