A Criminal Investigation Department officer has been sentenced to an effective three years in prison after a police sting operation uncovered a drug supply network involving dagga and BronCleer cough syrup in Harare.
Simbarashe Maenzanise, a Zimbabwe Republic Police officer attached to the CID Theft From Car Section, was convicted by the Mbare Magistrates’ Court of dealing in dangerous drugs and unlawful possession of medicines.
He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on the drug dealing charge, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving an effective three-year custodial term.
On a second count of unlawful possession of medicines, he received a two-year sentence, with six months suspended. The remaining 18 months were ordered to run concurrently with the first sentence.
The court heard that detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics initially arrested Dickson Mbewe, 35, after he was found in possession of dagga and bottles of BronCleer cough syrup.
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During investigations on March 4, 2025, Mbewe implicated Maenzanise as his supplier. Detectives then used Mbewe’s cellphone to pose as buyers and arranged to purchase one kilogramme of dagga and a box containing 50 bottles of BronCleer syrup.
Police set up an ambush at the agreed meeting point later that morning. Shortly after contact was made, Maenzanise’s wife arrived carrying a travelling bag containing 50 bottles of BronCleer cough syrup and two packets of dagga, leading to her arrest.
She subsequently implicated her husband and led detectives to their apartment, where Maenzanise was located in the bedroom.
A search of the premises resulted in the recovery of additional dagga stored in travelling bags and loose quantities containing seeds. Two cellphones were also seized.
The recovered dagga weighed 3.669 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of US$360, and was deemed intended for resale.
Further searches uncovered equipment suspected to be used in the manufacture and packaging of BronCleer cough syrup. Detectives seized 210 bottles of the syrup, containers holding the solution and various utensils linked to production activities, with an estimated street value of US$3 000.
The State was cited as the complainant in the matter.
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