Gweru Doctor, three others dragged to court over drug abuse allegations

By Dumisani Ndlovu

GWERU – A prominent medical practitioner at Gweru Provincial Hospital, along with three other individuals, appeared before the Gweru Magistrates Court facing serious allegations of smoking and possessing crystal methamphetamine (mutoriro), a dangerous drug that continues to wreak havoc among youths across the country.

The accused, Dr. Farikai Manjeya (49), Tafara Chigoya (28), an employee at Countryman Motor Spares, Kudakwashe Godknows Mutata (26), a general hand at the Ministry of Transport, and Tariro Pambwa (29), were dragged before Gweru Magistrate Arnold Maburo on November 11, 2025.

They face charges of unlawful possession and use of a dangerous drug as defined under the Dangerous Drugs Act [Chapter 15:02].

According to State Prosecutor Farai Hungwe, the four were arrested on November 9 following a police raid at the Doctors’ Cottages located at the corner of Kopje and George Road in Gweru, where detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics Midlands reportedly found them smoking mutoriro.

The court heard that detectives acted on a tip-off about drug activity at the premises. After securing a search warrant from the Gweru Magistrates Court, the officers proceeded to the flats and allegedly discovered the quartet smoking crystal meth using improvised j-pipes and cigarette lighters.

The State produced several exhibits, including the smoking pipes and small quantities of crystal meth residue, which were recovered during the search. Prosecutor Hungwe told the court that drug abuse, especially methamphetamine use, was a growing national problem that needed firm judicial intervention to curb its spread.

All four accused persons, however, denied the allegations, telling the court that they were innocent and that the police had unlawfully entered the premises without proper justification. Their defense counsel indicated that they would challenge the admissibility of the evidence and contest the legality of the search warrant.

Magistrate Maburo remanded the accused in custody pending their bail ruling, which is expected later this week.

The case has drawn public attention, with court attendees expressing shock that a medical doctor — entrusted with promoting health — could be implicated in drug-related offenses. Outside court, whispers of disbelief rippled through the crowd, many citing the incident as yet another sign of how mutoriro has penetrated all social classes, from youths in the townships to professionals in government service.
There were held in custody, pending bail application. The matter was postponed to November 18, 2025