By Panashe Divine Karidzagundi
A 25-year-old Beitbridge man accused of possessing dagga has denied the charge during his trial at the Beitbridge Magistrates Court.
Tapera Musikirima is appearing before Magistrate Mbonisi Kaweni.
On Thursday the charge levelled against him was that he had been found in unlawful possession of the dagga weighing 0.956kg with a street value of $956
Prosecutor Reason Mutimba alleged that on December 18, 2025, at around 8:30am, Musikirima was in the border post south bound freight terminal at Beitbridge when a security guard identified as Asha Mbano saw him.
Musikirima was collecting a black plastic from the bin when Mbano got interest.
Mutimba alleged Mbano asked Musikirima about the contents of his plastic and searched to discover two cobs of dagga now central in this case.
Musikirima was arrested and handed to police who in his presence weighed the dagga at the Post office.
It was establihed as 0.956kg, with an estimated street value of US$956.
But Musikirima is denying the allegations and in his defence told the court that he was working as an loader for a bus at the freight terminal.
He was on his way to the toilet when Mbano called him.
Musikirima said Mbano accused him of having taken a plastic from the bin and problems started.
Mbano inisted there was something near a bench and they discovered plastic bags containing food items, including sausages and polony.
Musikirima told the court that another man identified as Zunza then came forward claiming ownership of the plastic bags.
Musikirima further alleged that Mbano and other guards released him but later followed him up with the plastic bag saying it was his.
He says Mbano and other guards denied him a request for Closed-Circuit Television ( CCTV ) footage from the area to support his claims but was handed over to police.
During cross-examination, Musikirima challenged Mbano’s account saying he was lying about seeing him collecting items from the bin.
Musikirima also questioned why security personnel allegedly stopped searching people in the area when K9 dogs and officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority were passing by, an allegation Mbano denied.
The matter continues on March 11, 2026 .