Ex Caps UTD and Dynamos footballers jailed 12 years for dealing with drugs… 8 more Celebs also ARRESTED (SEE NAMES & SENTENCES)

HARARE – The bright lights of the stadium and the deafening roar of the concert hall have long been the hallmarks of success for Zimbabwe’s most celebrated icons. Yet, behind the glitz of the Premier Soccer League and the rhythmic pulse of Zimdancehall, a predatory shadow has been lengthening. A series of high-profile arrests and convictions has exposed a grim reality: the nation’s sporting and musical heroes are increasingly trading their trophies for handcuffs, caught in a relentless cycle of drug addiction and trafficking.

The fall from grace was perhaps most jarring this week in a Harare courtroom. Abbas Amidu, a man once hailed as a hero of the 2016 CAPS United title-winning side, and Reuben Mhlanga, whose defensive prowess helped Dynamos reach the semi-finals of the 2008 CAF Champions League, stood side-by-side. They were not there to receive medals, but to hear their fate. Both were sentenced to 12 years in prison for dealing in dangerous drugs.

The duo’s descent into the criminal underworld reached its terminal point in June last year. During a police operation along the Harare-Bulawayo highway, detectives intercepted the pair in possession of over 750 kg of dagga. The sheer scale of the haul suggested they were not mere users, but significant cogs in a distribution network. In a statement following the sentencing, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) was unequivocal:

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that crime does not pay. This follows the arrest, conviction, and sentencing of two former soccer players, Tumai Matsika (Abbas Amidu) and Kudzai (Reuben) Mhlanga, for dealing in dangerous drugs (dagga). The two appeared in court on 24th February 2026 for sentencing and were each sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.”

Amidu, who also enjoyed a stint with South African giants Kaizer Chiefs, and Mhlanga now face a decade behind bars, their careers not just ended, but erased by the very substances they chose to peddle.

The Methamphetamine Scourge

While Amidu and Mhlanga dealt in bulk quantities of marijuana, others have fallen prey to more insidious synthetic killers. Jerry Chipangura, a promising striker for Harare City, found his career derailed by methylenedioxymethamphetamine—the highly addictive crystal meth known locally as mutoriro.

On June 30, 2022, acting on a tip-off, detectives tracked Chipangura to John Tapedza Road in New Mabvuku. When searched, the footballer was found carrying a small black Adidas bag. Inside were two sachets containing 40g of meth, intended for sale. He was subsequently sentenced to 14 months in prison by Harare regional magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka. Unlike many of his peers, Chipangura has since attempted to rebuild his life on the pitch, but the stain of his conviction remains a cautionary tale for the league.

The epidemic is not confined to the capital. In the lakeside town of Kariba, the arrest of Winston Mhango sent tremors through the footballing fraternity. Mhango, then a key player for ZPC Kariba, was apprehended at his home in Mahombekombe in May 2023. Police recovered 4.7 kg of marijuana along with bottles of Benylin with Codeine and other illegal cough syrups.

A police spokesperson confirmed the details of the raid: “We confirm that arrest of Winston Mhango, a player with ZPC Kariba after he was found in possession of drugs and substances such as mbanje, codeine and others. Police raided the player’s house in Mahombekombe and managed to recover mbanje, Benylin and other cough syrups, among other drugs.”

The Rhythm of Addiction

The crisis is equally acute in the music industry, where the pressure to perform and the proximity to street culture have created a fertile ground for substance abuse. Tinashe “Ti Gonzi” Gonzora, one of the country’s most talented rappers, was recently sentenced to eight months in prison. His crimes were a chaotic blend of recklessness and addiction: shooting through a red traffic light while driving without a licence, and possession of marijuana and Broncleer cough syrup.

The court fined him US$100 for the marijuana and another US$100 for the Broncleer, both of which were forfeited to the State. His sentencing followed that of Zimdancehall veteran Romeo “Shinsoman” Anthony. The 37-year-old artist was convicted of smoking marijuana alongside four others in Mbare. While he escaped with a US$200 fine, the incident highlighted the pervasive nature of drug use in the high-density suburbs that birthed the genre.

For some, the brush with the law has been a catalyst for change. Saintfloew, a rising star in the rap scene, made headlines not for an arrest, but for his public admission of addiction. With the financial backing of businessman Tinashe Mutarisi, Saintfloew checked into a South African rehabilitation centre in 2023.

Mutarisi, reflecting on the journey, noted the importance of communal support:

“As we express our gratitude to Saintfloew for his courage, we must unite in support of those fighting similar battles. Together, we can shatter the stigma.”

Saintfloew returned from South Africa seemingly transformed, his career reaching new heights. However, his success story is an outlier. Takura “Blot” Chioniso, another Zimdancehall sensation, has had a far more turbulent path. Arrested in June 2023 for suspected possession of crystal meth, Blot was later discharged and entered the Matrix Rehabilitation Centre. Yet, reports suggest he has struggled to stay clean, with rumours of a relapse surfacing just months after his release.

A Generation at Risk

The “Hall of Shame” continues to grow. Reginald Mano, known to fans as Ras Pompy, was recently jailed for six months after being caught with 100 bottles of illegal cough syrup, including Broncleer and Benylin. His arrest followed a dramatic police chase in Harare, where his Honda Fit was intercepted by detectives who had been trailing his movements.

In the world of fashion and glamour, the story is no different. Harare model Tumelo Nare was sent to jail in 2023 after being found with cocaine at a city hotel. The case, which involved her friend Precious Bango, became a media sensation, further illustrating that no sector of the celebrity elite is immune.

The statistics paint a harrowing picture of a broader societal collapse. According to a 2025 Afrobarometer report, drug abuse now accounts for 60% of psychiatric admissions in Zimbabwe, with 80% of those cases involving young people. The crisis has reached such proportions that it is being described as a “society-wide challenge” that transcends social class.

The Cost of Silence

As the list of fallen stars grows, questions are being asked about the support systems—or lack thereof—within the sports and arts sectors. The pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle, coupled with the easy accessibility of “mutoriro” and “guka,” has created a trap that is easy to enter but nearly impossible to escape.

For Abbas Amidu and Reuben Mhlanga, the journey from the cheering crowds of the stadium to the silence of a prison cell is now complete. Their 12-year sentences serve as a grim reminder that in the high-stakes game of drug dealing, the house always wins. As the nation grapples with this epidemic, the stories of these stars serve as both a tragedy and a warning: the path of addiction leads only to the “Hall of Shame.”

TABLE: CHRONICLES OF THE FALLEN

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