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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 42-YEAR-OLD dagga smoking mine worker shocked a packed court when he said he smokes weed to gain extra energy to fend for his big family.
Ndabezinhle Ncube of Ingwizi Growth Point in Mangwe District appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, after he was found in possession of mbanje at his home.

Ncube said he moved to Mangwe in a bid to secure employment and he was expected to send money each month for the upkeep of his eight children and other relatives who were dependant on him.

“My family on its own is large Your Worship because I have eight children and they are all dependant upon me. I’m also looking after my elderly parents and my nieces and nephews,” he said.

Ncube said it was against this background that he was smoking dagga in a bid to gain extra strength so that he would work extra hard.
He said age was catching up with him and he had to devise a way to gain extra strength.

Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa lashed out at Ncube for using a lame excuse to justify his criminal act.

“If you have a large family to look after then you have to work extra hard and not smoke mbanje because that is an offence. All that you are trying to do is justify your illegal actions by making silly excuses.

“Well since it appears that you have been acquiring extra energy all this while through smoking mbanje you will be up to the task of working after I issue you with your sentence,” said Ruvetsa.

He sentenced Ncube to four months imprisonment of which two months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit an offence of the same nature.

The remaining two months were further suspended on condition that he performs 70 hours of community service at Ingwizi Clinic.

Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said police officers received a tip off that Ncube had dagga at his homestead.

He said on November 10 the officers proceeded to Ncube’s house at Number 363 Ingwizi Growth Point around 6PM.

Mazorodze said they searched his house and recovered mbanje twists weighing 0,020kg inside his trousers’ pockets.