By Panashe Karidzagundi
THREE Beitbridge men have each been sentenced to 105 hours of community service for smoking dagga.
The trio appeared before magistrate Mbonisi Kaweni on Monday.
Prosecutor Victor Gorejena told the Court that, detectives from the CID Beitbridge Drugs and Narcotics Unit were on a surveillance in Dulivhadzimu on July 9 at around 12:30 pm when they received information that people were smoking dagga at House Number 2971.
They proceeded to the house and found the three accused taking turns to smoke a prepared dagga cigarette.
They were arrested at the scene, and a dagga stub was seized as an exhibit before they were taken to the police station.
When asked by Kaweni why they had committed the offence, the accused each gave different explanations.
Vengesai told the court that he was “over excited.”
Nyoni said he had simply passed by, found other people smoking and decided to join them.
Ncube told the court that he had gone to collect his cellphone but found people smoking and also joined in.
During sentencing, Gorejena told the court that Vengesai and Ncube were not first-time offenders for similar drug-related offences.
In passing sentence, Kaweni said, the three had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, saving the court’s time.
The court sentenced each accused to four months’ imprisonment, with one month suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining custodial sentence was suspended on condition that each completes 105 hours of community service within three weeks.
Nyoni will perform his community service at Beitbridge Mission School, while Ncube will serve his at Vhembe High School.
Vengesai was also ordered to pay a US$101 fine after defaulting on payment of a previous court-ordered fine, in default of payment, he will serve in prison.