Suspected gold panners rob buyer

A lot of gold dealers and panners invaded Sherwood Park in recent weeks following the discovery of alluvial gold in the area.
Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Patrick Chademana said the complainant, Mr Wonder Napati (29), of Msasa Park in Kwekwe, also lost his car keys to the suspects in the robbery incident that occurred on Monday at about 11.30pm.
He said Mr Napati had gone to the Sherwood area in search of gold with the view to buy some.
Insp Chademana said police have since arrested one suspect, Edmore Muzenda, in connection with the matter.
“On the fateful day, the complainant, Mr Wonder Napati, who was in the company of a friend, drove to Saprum Mine in Kwekwe’s Sherwood area intending to buy gold from local panners.
“On approaching the mine, he was stopped by the suspects who were sitting at the back of a parked red pick-up truck and he complied,” he said.
The police spokesperson said the unknown suspects then jumped out of the parked truck and walked towards Mr Napati.
He said on approaching Mr Napati’s vehicle, the suspects demanded that he give them his car keys before forcing him and his colleague out of the vehicle.
“They then searched Mr Napati and took away $11 000 that he had in his pockets.
They also proceeded to search Mr Napati’s vehicle and took away a Tanita digital scale, a GPX 5000 metal detector, two Nokia cell phones and three shovels and drove away in their truck,” he said.
Insp Chademana said Mr Napati then used spare keys and drove to the city of Kwekwe where he made a report at Kwekwe Central Police Station.
“Police attended to the scene and one suspect, Edmore Muzenda was arrested. He is still assisting the police with investigations,” he said.
The total value of the stolen cash and goods is $17 400 and nothing was recovered.