By Panashe Divine Karidzagundi
A policeman and a serviceman with the Presidential Guard in the Zimbabwe National Army have, with two civilians, appeared in court on allegations of possesion of 328 kilograms of dagga internationally valued at $270 000.
Norest Jingura (35) of 1579 Mukuvisi Road, Houghton Park, Harare, Alison Maredza (44), the soldier, Khumbulani Dube (45) of 9528 Kwalu Suburb and Dzingai Takavarsha (45) , the policeman from Tomlison Depot appeared before Regional Magistrate Charity Maphosa on initial remand.
Prosecutor Mercy Nyathi requested the court to place the four in custody to allow the investigating officer time to obtain forensic reports.
Defence lawyers Jabulani Mzinyathi of Garikayi and Partners, Muchihwande Sithole of Sithole Law Office and Patrick Tererai of Tererai Law Practice said they would apply for bail but did not oppose custodial remand at this stage.
Nyathi, for the State, alleged that on February 14, 2026, at about 6:30am, Jingura, accompanied by Maredza, was driving a Toyota Hilux twin cab when he approached a national anti-smuggling taskforce roadblock near Lion and Elephant Motel, about 80 kilometres along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road.
Their car was searched and multiple sacks and loose cobs of dagga concealed in the vehicle were recovered.
The total weight of the seized substance is 328,155 kilogrammes.
Police also recovered a Zimbabwe police riot uniform allegedly worn by Jingura, despite him not being a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The pair were arrested and referred to CID Drugs and Narcotics Beitbridge for further investigations.
They allegedly implicated Dube, who was later arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post.
Investigations also led to the arrest of Takavarsha.
Maphosa remanded the four to February 18, 2026 for bail application hearing.