Zimbabwe: Gweru Man Tells Court Dagga Relieves Economic Stress

A GWERU man aged 21 drew giggles in court this week when he told a magistrate that he smoked marijuana as a way of relieving stress caused by the hard economic situation bedevilling the country.

Lusio Mberengwa said he was finding it hard to cope with the stress caused by the harsh economic environment and hence resorted to the illegal drug to keep going.

Gweru Man Tells Court Dagga Relieves Economic Stress

Mberengwa had appeared before Judith Taruvinga facing charges of possessing dagga.

"I smoke mbanje (dagga) as a way of killing stress since the economic situation is making it hard for me to cope with life," Mberengwa said.

Magistrate Taruvinga however, advised him that there were lawful means to relieve stress other than depending on illegal drugs.

She ordered Mberengwa to pay $50 for the offence, failing which he would spent 20 days in jail.

Prosecutors told the court that on January 10 this year, members of the Criminal Investigations Department drug squad received a tip off that Mberengwa who resides in Ascot Infill suburb, Gweru was in possession of dagga.

Mberengwa was raided and found in possession of one twist of dagga weighing 0,001kg before his subsequent arrest.