Drug dealer denied Independence Day celebration

Patience Nhamburo

While the rest of Zimbabwe celebrated Independence Day on April 18, detectives arrested a suspected drug dealer after discovering a potent concoction worth ZWL$39 000 at his home in Chitungwiza, one of the capital Harare’s satellite towns.

Tests showed the concoction commonly referred to as “muti usina zita” contained codeine phosphate – a medicinal agent often abused by druggies.

The Criminal Investigations Department (Drugs) and Support Unit led the sting operation on Tapuwa Mapfumo (31) whose stash of 78 bottles was immediately recovered.

Mapfumo appeared in court on Tuesday, charged with illegal possession of unregistered medicines.

Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi remanded him out of custody to May 27, 2021 on ZWL$10 000 bail.