A security aide at the ruling party headquarters in Zimbabwe has been fined US$200 for assaulting the deputy minister of tourism and his friend over a parking dispute.
Anthony Mwedziwendira, 30, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault when he appeared before a Harare magistrate on Monday.
He admitted that he grabbed the collar of Tongai Mnangagwa, the nephew of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and pulled his beard on January 30. He also threatened to shoot them if they made fun of him, although he did not produce any firearm.
The incident happened at a celebration party held at the apartment of Wellington Vengesai, a friend of the deputy minister, in central Harare.
Mwedziwendira was angry that Vengesai and his guests had blocked his vehicles, which he used to conceal and sell illegal drugs.
The court heard that Mwedziwendira was also facing another charge of unlawful possession of drugs, along with his suspected agent Jasper Kuziva, 25.
The police arrested them the following day after searching their four vehicles and recovering various types of drugs worth $825,000.
The drugs included dagga, pentral-50 pills, sildenafil tablets, cobra tablets, sex force tablets, oto tablets, and several sachets of sex-enhancing coffee and capsules. The police towed the vehicles to a police station for safekeeping and seized the drugs as exhibits.
The two accused persons will be back in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing on the drug charge.
Mwedziwendira and Kuziva are among the many drug dealers who operate in the capital city, posing a threat to public health and safety.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, drug abuse is one of the major causes of crime and violence in the country.
The police have launched several operations to crack down on drug syndicates and confiscate their contraband.
However, some analysts say that the war on drugs is not effective enough, as some drug dealers have connections with powerful politicians and security agents.
They also argue that the government should adopt a more holistic approach to address the root causes of drug abuse, such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of education.
They urge the authorities to provide more rehabilitation and counselling services for drug addicts, as well as alternative livelihood opportunities for drug peddlers.
Meanwhile, the deputy minister of tourism has expressed his gratitude to the police for their swift action and professionalism in handling his case.
He expressed his commitment to serving the nation with dedication and integrity, emphasizing that he was not intimidated by the attack. The minister also called for peace and harmony among Zimbabweans, regardless of their political affiliation.
He expressed his commitment to promoting Zimbabwe’s image and attractiveness to the world, emphasizing its beauty and great potential for tourism development.
Source: New Zimbabwe
