A ZIMBABWEAN man is in trouble for illegal possession of 9kg of mbanje, 25 100ml bottles of a cough syrup and 21 000 pula at his Maun home in Botswana.
According to media reports from the neighbouring country, Batswana police arrested Terence Mandidewa (30) on July 12 last year.
He appeared before a Maun magistrate on Tuesday this week after he was freed shortly after his arrest on condition that he reports to Maun Police Station fortnightly.
He was also ordered to pay 2 000 pula bail and provide two sureties.
Mandidewa, who pleaded not guilty to illegal dagga possession, was remanded to April 21 this year.
He demanded his car back that was seized by the police as an exhibit during the raid, but was advised to make his request at a substantive court in the presence of a substantive prosecutor.
Reports from Botswana indicated that weed reeked in the courtroom where the confiscated drug was presented as an exhibit.
Indications are that Mandidewa disputed all the charges levelled against him.
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The court heard that Mandidewa was arrested after police raided his residence in Gxhabara ward, where they allegedly found the marijuana, Bron Cleer cough syrup and money in his car and house.
It is estimated the weed has a street value of around 9 000 pula.
Mandidewa also faced a charge of irregular entry to Botswana using an undesignated entry point, which has since been dropped.
The State did not oppose his bail application.
“We are not opposed to the accused person being granted conditional bail. Although the charge sheet states that he entered the country through an ungazzetted point of entry, he entered Botswana legally. However, he has overstayed,” prosecutor Khani Khani told the court.
He revealed that the State was in possession of Mandidewa’s travel documents and did not view him as a flight risk.
Indications are that on the possession of cash charge, Mandidewa was able to justify having 21 000 pula at his place hence the charge was dropped.
