Man in court for possessing gold, mbanje

Tinashe Hazvide
POSSESSION of gold and mbanje landed a Penhalonga man in trouble with the law.
Raymond Mapanda (34) of Muzulu Compound in Mashoko Village, Penhalonga, appeared in court for possessing gold without a licence as defined in Section 3(1) of the Gold Trade Act, Chapter 21:3 and possessing mbanje as defined in Section 157, Chapter 9:23 (found in possession of dagga). He pleaded not guilty when he appeared before senior Mutare magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura and was remanded out of custody to November 10 on $10 bail.

The court heard that on October 24 at around 10pm, Mapanda was found in possession of mercury, three gold-panning dishes, a pestle, a gold scale, gold ore and gold, by Sergeant Mudziwa who was on patrol after a tip-off from someone.
He was on the same day also found in possession of mbanje weighing 100g .