By Patience Gondo
A mourner (39) from Harare took advantage of a deceased he was escorting in a hearse to ferry prohibited habit-forming cough medicine from South Africa to Zimbabwe.
Charles Kudzanesu on Monday appeared before magistrate Gillian Padzakashamba facing a charge of unlawful possession of unregistered medicines.
Prosecutor Sicelesile Sibanda told the court that on Sunday boarded a Toyota Quantum kombi bringing the remains of the deceased from SA to Zimbabwe for burial.
The court heard the vehicle arrived at the Zimbabwe side of the Beitbridge Border Post shortly after midnight on March 16.
Officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority conducted a routine search of the vehicle.
During the inspection, officers discovered a blue 20 litre bucket containing 105 bottles of Astra cough syrup. A wrapped box containing another 45 bottles of the same cough syrup was also recovered.
ZIMRA officials seized the medicines and arrested Kudzanesu on the scene.
The drugs were later taken for examination at Beitbridge Pharmacy, where it was confirmed that the cough syrup was not registered for use in Zimbabwe.
The State said the recovered medicines have a value of about US$750. Kudzanesu disputed the valuation, saying he had earlier been told they were worth US$300 by Zimra .
When asked by magistrate Padzakashamba why the court should consider a lenient sentence, Kudzanesu said he intended to sell the cough syrup to raise money for medical expenses following a recent operation.
He admitted that he knew transporting the medicines without proper documentation was an offence.
The matter is set to continue in court as the State pursues the charge of unlawful possession of unregistered medicines.
Kudzanesu will appear in court Tuesday 17 March for judgement.