HARARE
–
The
National
Prosecuting
Authority
of
Zimbabwe
(NPAZ)
says
it
will
not
be
appealing
against
the
controversial
sentences
handed
to
nine
Chinese
nationals
convicted
of
drug
use
in
Harare,
but
confirmed
that
deportation
proceedings
are
underway.
The
group,
convicted
last
week
of
cocaine
possession,
was
fined
just
US$150
each
by
magistrate
Vakayi
Chikwekwe
—
a
ruling
that
triggered
public
outrage
amid
concerns
the
judiciary
is
failing
to
match
the
government’s
tough
rhetoric
on
drugs
with
deterrent
penalties.
In
a
statement
issued
Wednesday,
the
NPA
acknowledged
the
widespread
criticism
but
said
its
focus
was
now
on
ensuring
the
immediate
removal
of
the
offenders
from
Zimbabwe.
“The
NPAZ
can
confirm
that
the
nine
individuals
are
currently
awaiting
deportation.
We
remain
committed
to
the
diligent
and
fair
prosecution
of
all
criminal
cases,
regardless
of
nationality
or
status
of
all
criminal
cases,
regardless
of
nationality
or
status,”
the
authority
said.
The
statement
also
revealed
that
prosecutors
have
been
instructed
to
take
a
harder
line
in
future
drug
cases
to
avoid
a
repeat
of
the
controversy.
“Henceforth,
all
public
prosecutors
have
been
instructed
to
prefer
the
correct
charges
in
all
drug-related
cases,
and
ensure
that
they
aggressively
pursue
stiffer
sentences
in
court,
to
secure
penalties
that
truly
reflect
the
seriousness
of
these
offences,”
it
said.
The
NPA
described
drug
abuse
as
a
“significant
threat”
to
the
country
and
urged
the
public
to
remain
vigilant,
saying
Zimbabwe
must
not
become
a
haven
for
narcotics.
The
case
stems
from
a
September
1
police
raid
on
a
Newlands
property,
where
officers
recovered
cocaine,
crystal
meth
and
other
substances
valued
at
more
than
US$1,000.
Nine
of
the
accused
admitted
to
using
cocaine
and
were
fined,
while
alleged
ringleader
Huang
Zhen
remains
in
custody
awaiting
trial.