Justice Matanda-Moyo admits cracks in justice system after Chinese cocaine case
STAFF WRITER
Prosecutor General Loyce Matanda-Moyo has admitted the justice system failed Zimbabweans after nine Chinese nationals convicted of cocaine use were fined just US$150 each — a ruling that has sparked a wave of anger across the country.
In a rare and direct acknowledgement, Matanda-Moyo said the public’s outrage was justified.
“The recent case involving nine foreign nationals who were found guilty of using cocaine—each fined US$150 and deported—has understandably provoked a strong public reaction,” she said. “I wish to acknowledge—directly and without hesitation—the public’s distress.”
She went further, warning that light sentences risked eroding trust in the entire justice system. “Paltry fines are a slap on the wrist. They send a message that the lives and well-being of the victims of drug abuse—the youth, the families, the communities—are of negligible value,” she said.
The comments come after the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed it would not appeal the controversial ruling, instead moving to deport the offenders while directing prosecutors to pursue harsher penalties in future cases.
The September 1 raid that triggered the case uncovered cocaine, crystal meth and other substances worth over US$1,000 at a Newlands property in Harare. While nine admitted drug use and walked free after paying fines, the alleged ringleader, Huang Zhen, remains in custody.
The ruling has been sharply contrasted with a recent High Court decision where a Harare mother of four was ordered jailed for nearly a kilogram of cannabis — prompting accusations of double standards between foreign nationals and locals.
Matanda-Moyo told stakeholders at the launch of Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Courts that the courts must now reset their approach.
“Prosecutors are called upon to submit weighty, well-researched and compelling submissions on sentences and not simply leave sentencing to the discretion of the court,” she said. “Our sentences must not only be procedurally fair but also serve as a just and effective deterrent to crime.”
She urged prosecutors and judges to build a cohesive court framework that balances speed with fairness, saying: “The public requires a justice system that is not only robust but also swift and transparent.”
Her unusually blunt remarks — rare for a top judicial officer — are likely to intensify calls for a tougher stance as Zimbabwe grapples with a drug crisis tearing through communities and eroding faith in the courts.