Former Miss Tanzania escapes jail time after conviction for drug possession and use

Former Miss Tanzania, Wema Sepetu, has been found guilty of possession and use of illicit drugs after a legal battle that took place for over a year. Ms Sepetu won the Miss Tanzania contest in 2006 and represented her country in Miss World which was held in Warsaw, Poland.

The Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam sentenced the former beauty queen to one year in prison or pay TSh2 Million fine for the two crimes on July 20, 2018. She escaped jail time by opting for the latter.

Ms Sepetu, who is currently an actress, was arrested after she was found with a stash of 1.80 grams of marijuana in her house during a raid by the police in February 2017, which resulted in her spending close to a week in police custody before she was finally presented in court.

The former beauty queen was among numerous celebrities who were named by the Regional Commissioner of Dar-es-salaam as drug abusers and traffickers.

On February 8, 2018, Ms Sepetu was taken to the office of the Chief Government Chemist for urine test where after analysis it was confirmed that it contained cannabis. However, in her defense, the actress said that though the rolls of marijuana were found in her house, she did not know the owner.

Aside from being an actress, she has in the past expressed her interest in politics and even campaigned passionately for President Magufuli under his Chama Cha Mapinduzi – CCM (Revolutionary Party) in 2015.

She had also declared her intention of vying for a Member of Parliament seat in general elections, along with veteran Bongo Flava rappers Professa Jay and Afande Sele. She vied for the women special seat under the ruling party but unfortunately things did not go as planned.

Sepetu expressed her love for CCM during the campaigns and was quoted on occasions saying that if you cut her and she bled, it would be green the color of the party she loves.

On 24 February, 2017, the former beauty queen and actress took over the internet when announced that her days as a loyal member of the ruling party, CCM, were over and that she was joining the main opposition party, CHADEMA.

The war on drugs that turned to be one of the biggest political witch-hunts had landed her in hot water. While few bought the allegations, the damage was done. She was labeled a drug dealer and user.

Months later she announced her move back to CCM through her Instagram page as she posted that she was not in ‘peace’ and had decided to ‘go back home’.

Wema is the daughter of the late Tanzanian diplomat Abraham Isaac Sepetu, who was also a devout member of the Chama cha Mapinduzi.