Taurai Zuze, a 38-year-old suspected drug dealer from Honde Valley, Mutare, stunned the court last Friday when he demanded to be remanded in custody after being charged with possessing 51,14kg of dagga worth over $5 000.
Zuze made the plea after public prosecutor Innocent Chingarande had applied to have him remanded in custody arguing the suspect was a flight risk. Zuze left the court in stitches when the magistrate Donald Ndirowei asked him to respond to the application.
“I deny the charge but yes, I agree with the State’s application,” Zuze said.
“Your worship, I come from far away and would rather prefer to be remanded in custody where it would be easier for me to come to court,” he said drawing laughter from the gallery.
The magistrate then asked Zuze if he was aware of the conditions in prison and he simply said: “No, I have never been incarcerated before.”
Zuze, who hails from Burasha Village under Chief Mutasa, was arrested on Tuesday last week at Mbare Musika bus terminus in Harare after disembarking from a rural bus.
Following a tip-off, police detectives pounced on him and recovered the contraband worth over $5 000, leading to his arrest.
Zuze was eventually remanded in custody to Thursday this week for trial after the magistrate ruled he had been honest enough to tell the court he would not attend court if released on bail.
