Ex-Kaizer Chiefs Star Abbas Amidu Arrested In Zimbabwe Over 780kg Dagga Bust

Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Brian Abbas Amidu has been arrested in Zimbabwe after authorities seized nearly 800 kilogrammes of dagga. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) intercepted a silver Honda Fit Shuttle on the Kwekwe–Kadoma Highway near the Gokwe turn-off.

“Detectives recovered 75 packets of dagga concealed in black plastic wrapping,” the ZRP confirmed on X (formerly Twitter), estimating the haul at 780 kilogrammes with a street value of around US$78,000 (over R1,3 million). Police said the operation followed a tip-off that the suspects were transporting drugs from Kwekwe to Harare.

Amidu, who is also recorded locally as Tumirai Matsika, appeared in Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court alongside 41-year-old Kudzai “Reuben” Mhlanga. Both face drug trafficking charges and have been remanded in custody pending a bail application. Prosecutors described the bust as one of the largest in the Midlands province this year.

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Amidu’s football journey included a brief stint at Kaizer Chiefs in 2012 before moving to Black Leopards in South Africa. He later played in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, while also representing CAPS United and the Zimbabwe national team, the Warriors.

Social media users have drawn attention to a discrepancy in Amidu’s age. The ZRP lists him as 29, but football databases such as FotMob and Transfermarkt suggest he was born in 1990, making him around 35 in 2025. This inconsistency has sparked debates online about the accuracy of official records.

Age discrepancies are not uncommon in African football, where players sometimes understate their age to qualify for youth competitions or secure contracts. Police claim Amidu has used multiple aliases and has pending cases in Epworth and Harare under different identities, allegedly to evade law enforcement.

Broader Context: Drug-Related Arrests in Zimbabwe

Amidu’s arrest comes amid increased scrutiny of high-profile drug cases in Zimbabwe. Last week, Robert Mugabe Junior, 33, son of the late former president, was arrested in central Harare for possession of two grammes of dagga.

Mugabe Junior was stopped while driving a silver Honda Fit the wrong way along 2nd Street Extension, with police recovering cannabis sachets and related items in his possession.

The ZRP confirms the arrest of soccer players, Tumai Matsika, also known as Abas Amidu (29) and Reuben Kudzai Mhlanga (41) for drug trafficking. The two were found in possession of 750kg of dagga valued at USD75 000-00 in a silver Honda Shuttle vehicle, registration number AGP… pic.twitter.com/hRH4FQhMGf

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) October 6, 2025

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