Seven jailed for dagga possession in 25-case police roundup
Zimbabwe police named seven people sentenced for unlawful possession of dagga as part of 25 convictions announced in a nationwide crackdown. The dagga sentences ranged from six months to 36 months, while other cases involved dangerous drugs, unregistered medicines and an immigration offence.
Police named 25 drug offenders convicted and sentenced in separate cases as a
nationwide crackdown on illicit substances gathered momentum.[1][2]Somandla
Liberty, 19, of Bindura, was jailed for 24 months for unlawful possession of
dagga.[1]Lilian Mupandenyama, 26, also from Bindura, received a 36-month
prison sentence for unlawful possession of dagga.[1]Shelter Tshuma, 25,
Buhlebenkosi Hlabangana, 20, and Patience Prisca Moyo, 23, all of Inyathi, were
each sentenced to 10 months for unlawful possession of dagga.[1]Cecelia
Nduna, 20, of Masvingo, was sentenced to six months for unlawful possession of
dagga, while Anderson Chitabura, 28, of Shamva, received 12 months for the same
offence.[1]
The offenders had been arrested in different parts of the country and appeared
before courts that imposed varying prison terms for offences involving dangerous
drugs, dagga and unregistered medicines.[1][2]Criminal Investigation Department
deputy spokesperson Merylin Muriro said police were naming the convicted
offenders to expose those involved in drug-related crimes.[1][2]The longest
terms went to two dangerous-drugs cases, with Easter Beans of Hatcliffe jailed
for five years and Tinozivaishe Zimbeva of Chiredzi sentenced to five years.[1][2]Police linked the disclosure to intensified efforts against supply networks
involving crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as mutoriro, mbanje and other
dangerous drugs.[1]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Arrested
7
Charged
7
Agency type
Police
Cannabis
Herbal cannabis
Activity
Possession
Setting
Prison
Case stage
Sentenced
Sentence
Prison
Sources
The Heraldheraldonline.co.zwPolice name and shame 25 convicted drug peddlers in nationwide illicit substance crackdown
The reported total of 25 covers dangerous drugs, dagga and unregistered medicines, plus one immigration case, so the combined total is not recorded as a cannabis figure; only the seven separately identified dagga cases are counted.
No separate arrest or sentencing dates for the individual dagga cases were given, so 29 October 2026, the publication date of the disclosure, is used as the incident date.
No cannabis weights, plant counts or values were published, so no kg_seized, plants_destroyed or value figure is recorded.
The seven dagga sentences range from six months to 36 months, so no single prison figure is recorded.
Only one accessible source for this disclosure was found after searching in English.
A similarly spelled Cecilia Nduna, 21, of Chivi, sentenced for dangerous drugs, is a different listed person from Cecelia Nduna, 20, of Masvingo, sentenced for dagga.
This account was published on 30 October 2026, one day after the 29 October disclosure used as the incident date, so the existing incident date is retained.
This account describes the cannabis component as mbanje while the report uses dagga; both are local terms for cannabis and no new cannabis weight is given.
This account details other dangerous-drugs and unregistered-medicines sentences without specifying which dangerous-drugs cases involved cannabis, so no additional cannabis figures are added.
Police in Chipinge arrested Maria Mawacha, Gremma Mutema and Simon Sithole after 357 dagga plants were found in maize fields and gardens. Mawacha pleaded guilty and received 36 months with suspensions and 580 hours community service, while charges against Mutema were withdrawn and Sithole awaits sentence.
The Chinhoyi Magistrates' Court sentenced Aristotle Keith Mabvira to an effective 30 months in prison for possessing 1.055 kg of dagga recovered from his room. Six months of the 36-month term were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Arrested 1Cannabis 1.055 kgPrison 30 months (six months suspended for five years)
Zimbabwe's information minister said 2,889 people accused of drug offences had been brought before the courts and 381 convictions secured under the government's drug abuse crackdown, and that 31 drug bases in Manicaland and Mashonaland West provinces were dismantled. He gave the value of all drugs confiscated, dagga among them, as about ZiG79.9 million.
Two former footballers were each sentenced to 12 years in prison in Zimbabwe for dealing in dagga. Police said the pair were caught on the Kwekwe-Kadoma Highway with 750 kg of dagga valued at USD 75,000.
