By Chenjelani Baraedi
The Francistown magistrate court has ordered a father who allegedly took instructions from the spirits of the dead, to plant and smoke dagga, to go for mental psychiatric evaluation.
The sanity of 56-year-old Moses Fani came to doubt on Friday when he unceremoniously interrupted the court interpreter and requested permission to say a short prayer before he could explain how is he was linked to six green plants, suspected to be Marijuana, which were discovered in his backyard garden on the New Year’s Eve at Kutamogore village, near Dukwi Refuges Camp. “I just want to consult the gods for guidance in what I am going to say before this court,” Fani said, putting up a brave face: “I think it’s my due right to seek advice from the ancestors especial when facing a charge like this.”
But the court refused the father 10 permission to pray before a single count of growing the illegal habiting forming drug was read to him. And when he was given chance to say something, he blurted out that, “The spirit of the late father of my wife is behind the use of this tree.”
Fani explained that all started sometime in 2007, following a long illness, which nearly took his life. He said his late father-in-law instructed him in the dream to take the illegal drugs.
“In the dream I saw myself walking on a big mountain. As I was just taking a corner, I bumped on to the old man who unceremoniously gave me a hand full of dagga and some seeds and he said I should use the tree or else I will die, then he disappeared without another word,” a calm Fani said adding that since he attached himself to plant, he never got sick.
While the accused seemed to enjoy the attention of the fully packed courtroom as he vividly explained about his sickness, the six marijuana plants uprooted from his backyard and the spirit of his in law, Magistrate Pride Rusike, was, however, not impressed. She told Fani to cut his story short and ordered the prosecution to take him to a psychiatrist Doctor to probe his sanity, before the case could proceed.
She also ordered Fani that be released on bail, on condition that he reports to the Police every Monday. She adjourned the case until the 9th February when the accused would be brought for mention.
Outside court, Fani complained to members of the public outside court that the court has no right to take away the drug from him. “This is just tantamount to execution. I was told that I would die if I stop taking dagga.”
http://www.thevoicebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2070:of-the-gods-and-ganja&catid=35:court-stories&Itemid=54
Great story and if the governments looked at society believing in the unknown they would respect this man, if it was any other plant in this world it would never br frowned upon. I hope he continues to listen and talk with the gods.
