adminZvikomborero Parafini
A GANG of artisanal miners was yesterday hauled to court for allegedly stealing gold ore from Netmuk Mining Syndicate.
Daniel Mandizvidza, Emmanuel Nyakabangwe, Bellington Chitaka, Achford Museruka and Isaac Tembo appeared before Harare magistrate Tafadzwa Miti.
The court heard that on August 6, the complainant, Asheal Matenga, went to his mine and found a truck fully loaded with approximately 10 tonnes of gold ore.
He asked his security guard, Wonder Kaundura, who had loaded the gold ore into the truck.
The guard pointed to the five.
Matenga instructed the security guard to escort them to the mill.
He remained behind at the mine. After a few kilometres, the five accused forced the security guard out of the truck and went to Morebetter Days Mill in Lowdale, a licensed miller, where they started processing the gold ore.
Matenga filed a police report at ZRP Marlborough in Harare.
The police went to the mill and arrested the five where the gold ore was being processed, and 4.63 grammes of gold valued at US$263 was recovered.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter