Terrence Mawawa, Rusape | Three cheeky men have been arrested for planting Mbanje at the local Heroes Acre.

The three were convicted and sentenced after pleading guilty to charges of planting the drug at the shrine.

The three, Abdulla Zachariah(38), Tafirenyika Marima(42) and Taurai Nyamudzura (27), all of Magamba Extension, were arrested last week. The trio also appeared in court last week.
They appeared before Provincial Magistrate, Elizabeth Hanzi facing charges of planting the drug inside the shrine.

The court heard that the trio destroyed tombstones and planted mbanje at the sacred place.
“You went to Makoni District Heroes and despite the fact that you knew the place was sacred, you proceeded to destroy tombstones at the district shrine. You then planted mbanje at the place,” the court heard.

The three initially claimed they were framed by their neighbours and later pleaded guilty to charges of planting mbanje.

They were realising a lot of money from selling the prohibited drug,the court heard.
“While you knew it was an offence to plant the prohibited drug, you wilfully grew mbanje for the purpose of making profit,” the court heard.

Marima was sentenced to three years in jail while Zechariah was slapped with an 18-month jail sentence.

Nyamudzura was ordered to perform 270 hours of community service.

Sources in Rusape told ZimEye.com the three were well known suppliers of the drug in the town.