SANGOMA : WEED IS FOR ASTHMATIC PATIENTS

A TRADITIONAL healer from Bulawayo has been sentenced to a year in jail for possessing dagga with an estimated street value of more than $1 000, which he said he was using to cure asthmatic patients.

Cleopas Moyo (44) from Tshabalala suburb told the court that he mixes the mbanje with honey as a remedy for asthma. “I use mbanje to treat people who suffer from asthma. I prepare a concoction of mbanje and honey as medication for my patients,” he said.

Moyo said he has clients who come from as far as Botswana for treatment.
He told the court that he “inherited the healing” powers from his uncle who is a traditional healer too.

“I have been operating from Plumtree and my clients come from Botswana and other parts of the country. My uncle taught me how to prepare the mixture,” Moyo said.
The court heard that Moyo gets the mbanje from illegal vendors near Madlodlo beer garden in Makokoba suburb.

“I buy the dagga near Madlodlo beer garden at $45 a bucket,” he said. Moyo was convicted on his own plea of guilty and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving nine effective months.

Moyo told the court that he was quitting healing using mbanje as it has landed him in trouble with the law.

Prosecuting, Mrs Memory Ndlovu said Moyo was found in possession of 1,18 kilogrammes of dagga in a travelling bag.

“On September 23 at around 7 PM, the accused was walking near Ihlathi High school. He was stopped by Tshabalala police officers who were on patrol,” she said.
“He was searched and the police found dagga weighing 1,18kg in a travelling bag he was carrying.”

Mrs Ndlovu said Moyo was taken to Crime Investigation Department Drugs Bulawayo, where the dagga with an estimated street value of $1 180 was weighed in his presence. Chronicle

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