Light skin cream dealer in court

A BULAWAYO woman yesterday appeared in court charged of selling illegal skin lightening creams and hip enlargement pills.

Dambudzo Madawu, 46, of Njube suburb, was fined $50 after pleading guilty to a charge of possessing unregistered medicines before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze.

Madawu was found with Apetito tablets that allegedly make users have appetite and develop hips and curves.

Police also seized Betasol cream and Epiderm cream which are said to be skin lighteners.

Madawu was caught after she tried to sell the illegal products to plain clothes police officers at the corner of Herbert Chitepo and 5th Avenue in the city centre on March 5 this year.

Prosecutor Nkathazo Dlodlo said: "The police officers searched her vending stall leading to the recovery of eight 15 grammes Betasol cream, 40 Apetito Cyproheptadine tablets and eight Epiderm cream tubes which were hidden in an old pillow."

A further search led to the recovery of a black travelling bag containing more Betasol cream and 1,880 Apetito Cyproheptadine tablets.

The recovered substances had a street value of $108.

Skin lightening creams, hip enhancers and associated medicines are illegal under the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.