By Rex Mphisa
A South African national sobbed on Thursday soon after his conviction for bringing prohibited drugs worth more than US$3 000 into Zimbabwe from his country.
Mzimasi Phuthumani (31) of Cape Town contravened Section 38(1)(a) as read with Section 38(3) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act Chapter 15:03 as read with Section 78(1) of the same Act Regulations of 1991.
Put simply, it is illegal possession of unregistered medicines.
Agreed facts were that on August 26, 2026 at the Beitbridge Border Post, Phuthumani had 720x100mls bottles of Broncleer cough syrup banned in Zimbabwe.
Phuthumani of 94 Delft Main Road, Cape Town, employed as a driver with a South African crossborder minibus company was initially viewing his whole experience as a fiction movie, and himself the main actor.
A physical examination on luggage in his Toyota Quantum registration number CF 229958 towing a trailer with registration number CN 16831 revealed the contraband.
His demeanour was far from serious and his posture in the dock told his playful attitude.
To start with he had come into a fast track court where he was supposed to admit and be done with.
But looking down on the court as he exhibited, and feeling it was not a serious episode in his life, he decided to say he knew nothing about the case.
And when he was told a later trial date would be set for him since he was now of a changed mind, he quickly recorded a plea of guilt.
“I am really sorry, I am the one who had the consignment and I want to plead guilty. Please forgive me,” he told the court which further probed if his changed plea was voluntary.
“Yes, it is please forgive me,” he said before resident magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba.
Tears started building in his eyes when he realised he was not going home any soon and it was not an open, shut and be released case as he might have believed.
This was when Mercy Nyathi began addressing tue court in aggravation.
Nyathi said Zimbabwe was waging a war against drugs taking their toll on the youths badly.
She said the prevalence of drugs was worrisome and a clear message was to be sent to other would be offendors.
She asked for a custodial sentence and got six months for Phuthumani who was not legible for community service being a foreigner.
And reality then dawned.