A 25-year-old Chipinge man, Blessed Mhlanga has been sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of possessing and dealing in dagga, during a police stop-and-search operation along the Ngundu-Tanganda Highway.
In a statement yesterday, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe said Mhlanga would serve an effective two-year jail term after one year of the sentence was suspended on condition of good behaviour.
“The Chipinge Magistrates’ Court has convicted and sentenced 25-year-old, Blessed Mhlanga to three years’ imprisonment for the possession of and dealing in dagga.
The offender will serve an effective two-year sentence, as one year was suspended on the condition of good behavior,” said the NPAZ.
According to the prosecution authority, the offence occurred on 17 April 2026, when police officers conducting an early morning operation intercepted the accused and discovered the illicit substance in his possession.
“On April 17, 2026, at around 0530 hours, police were conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Ngundu-Tanganda highway in Chipinge. The offender was stopped and searched, leading to the discovery of 80 grams of dagga in his possession,” the NPAZ said.
Further investigations established that Mhlanga was involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Police also established upon his arrest that the offender was a drug dealer,” the authority said.
The NPAZ warned that individuals involved in the distribution and sale of illegal drugs risk lengthy prison sentences.
“Drugs continue to be a menace in our society, threatening to tear communities apart. The NPAZ would like to warn drug peddlers that they face severe jail time for dealing in illicit substances,” the authority said.
Zimbabwe has intensified its fight against drug and substance abuse through enhanced law enforcement operations, public awareness campaigns and tougher penalties for offenders. Authorities have repeatedly identified drug trafficking and abuse as a threat to communities, particularly among the youth.
