MDC-T councillor raided over mbanje, drugs

AN MDC-T councillor in Umguza was briefly detained on Sunday following a police raid at his homestead in search of mbanje and other illicit drugs.

The search yielded nothing, but police arrested councillor Maqhawe Mpengesi of Ward 3 in Fingo village on accusations of poaching after they found leather at his homestead that he uses to make sandals with.

Mpengesi was released without charge after a few hours.

Mpengesi confirmed the incident to Southern Eye yesterday.

"They came at around 6am with a search warrant for mbanje and other illicit drugs," Mpengesi.said.

"They found nothing, but went on to arrest me on accusations of poaching after they seized some leather which I use to make sandals with."

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Siphiwe Makonese professed ignorance of the raid and arrest of Mpengesi saying she had been attending a workshop in Harare over the weekend.

Mpengesi said he will sue the police for defamation of character.

"I am planning to sue them for defamation," he said.

"I have never smoked mbanje neither have I sold mbanje or any other drugs, nor have I ever been involved in poaching."
Umguza MDC-T chairman Mxolisi Ndlovu confirmed the police raid and arrest of the councillor.

Ndlovu said the raid and detention of the councillor on unproven allegations "should be condemned in the strongest terms" since "there are criminals that we have reported to the police for harassing villagers prior to the elections and they have still not been arrested".