Crime and Courts
Bulawayo Man Handed Six-Year Sentence for Drug Possession
A 31-year-old Bulawayo resident has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found in possession of cocaine and large quantities of cannabis.
Darian-Lee Kevin Lloyd Jackson, who resides in West Somerton, was convicted after pleading guilty before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira. The court suspended two years of the sentence for five years on condition of good behaviour, leaving Jackson to serve an effective four years behind bars.
Jackson was arrested together with his wife, Lakin Lee Robinson (32), who has denied the charges and is expected to stand trial.
The pair were apprehended in July during an operation carried out by detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit in Bulawayo’s central business district.
In mitigation, the magistrate noted that Jackson was a first-time offender who showed remorse and saved the court’s time by admitting guilt.
Prosecutor Ms Nkanyezi Xaba told the court that police received intelligence indicating that the couple was selling cocaine and dagga in and around the city centre using a white vehicle.
Detectives placed the vehicle under surveillance before intercepting it and conducting a search, which led to the recovery of cocaine sachets, cannabis, cannabis gummies and sweets infused with dagga concealed in different compartments.
Following the arrest, police searched the couple’s home where they uncovered a much larger haul, including kilograms of loose dagga stored in buckets, prepared dagga cigarettes, and additional drug-laced edibles.
In total, police seized about nine kilogrammes of cannabis and several grammes of cocaine. The drugs are estimated to be worth more than ZWG$400 000 on the streets.
The court heard that the accused processed some of the drugs into edible products, including sweets and confectionery infused with cannabis.
Crime and Courts
Magaya’s Heart Stadium, Hotel Go Under the Hammer
By Everisto Zhuwao
The auction of Heart Stadium and its adjoining hotel, properties linked to Walter Magaya, is set for Friday, 27 February 2026, at Raylton Sports Club. Registration of bidders will commence at 8 a.m., with the auction expected to start at 10 a.m.
The sale follows a writ of execution issued by the High Court of Zimbabwe after creditors moved to recover outstanding debts. Court proceedings paved the way for the attachment of the stadium and hotel, which form part of property associated with Prophet Magaya and Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries. The properties are being auctioned in line with legal processes aimed at settling the obligations.
Heart Stadium, located in the Prospect area of Waterfalls, was developed as part of an ambitious sports and hospitality project spearheaded by PHD Ministries. The facility, which includes a football pitch built to modern standards and a hotel complex, was at one time presented as a contribution to the development of local sporting infrastructure. The stadium has hosted football matches and church gatherings, becoming a notable landmark within the area.
The impending auction marks a significant development in the ongoing financial and legal challenges facing the ministry’s business ventures. Creditors have sought legal recourse after efforts to recover funds reportedly failed, resulting in the court-sanctioned sale of the immovable property.
The development has drawn public interest given the prominence of the facilities and their association with one of the country’s most recognisable religious figures. Observers say the outcome of the auction could determine the future of the stadium and hotel, while also bringing closure to the debt recovery process initiated through the courts.
Crime and Courts
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe to Remain in Custody Until March
Two men, Chatunga Mugabe and Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, appeared before the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court facing serious allegations that have drawn public attention.
The charges laid against them include attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to proceedings in court, the firearm allegedly linked to the case has not yet been recovered, a development that has added another layer of complexity to the matter.
The court heard initial submissions as the accused stood in the dock, listening quietly while the charges were read out.
The magistrate ordered that both men remain in custody until 3 March, when they are expected to make a formal bail application.
Until then, investigations are ongoing as authorities continue searching for the missing firearm and gathering further evidence.
The case has sparked widespread discussion, with many awaiting the next court appearance to see how the matter unfolds.
Crime and Courts
Chinhoyi University Supervisor Wanted Over US$17K Fraud Case
A supervisor at Chinhoyi University of Technology is on the run after allegedly defrauding the university’s Medicinal Feed Factory of about US$17,000.
The suspect, Jairos Makasa, who is based in Chitungwiza, is accused of using an outdated receipt book to carry out the fraud.
Earlier reports had wrongly identified the fugitive as farm manager Mafaro Zengeni. However, investigations have since confirmed that Zengeni is not involved in the case. He remains at work and has not been charged.
Authorities established that Makasa falsely implicated Zengeni in a report he submitted to university management, creating confusion about who was responsible for the offence.
According to the report, Makasa allegedly admitted to defrauding the institution during sales of beef fattening feed, using receipt numbers ranging from 233130 to 233187.
Confirming the incident, Gifford Chikuya, Acting Director of Communications, Marketing and Public Relations at the university, said the suspect is still at large.
“It is true that a fraud case occurred, and the person responsible, Makasa, is currently on the run,” he said.
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