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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
TWO Mutare artisanal diamond miners will live to regret selling the mineral like tomatoes in the streets after they were arrested for dealing in precious stones.
Sheila Mbumburu (36) of New Dangare, Sakubva, and Fortunate Musere (42) of Chikanga Three are being charged with contravening Section 3 (1) as read with Section 3(2) of the Precious Stones Trade Act, Chapter 21:06 that prohibits dealing in precious stones.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Manicaland District Liaison Officer, Detective Sergeant Shake Shanu confirmed the duo’s arrest.
“Last Sunday, detectives from the Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit in Mutare received information that the two accused persons were looking for diamond buyers in Palmerstone suburb,” said Detective Sergeant Shanu.
“The detectives reacted to the information and encountered the accused persons along Josiah Tongogara Road in Palmerstone as they were sitting at the roadside.
“The detectives introduced themselves and conducted a search, thereby leading to the recovery of two suspected diamonds pieces wrapped in a white toilet tissue in Mbumburu’s black handbag,” he said. Detective Sergeant Shanu said the recovered pieces of suspected diamonds weighed four carats, adding that the value is yet to be assayed.
“The accused persons were interviewed and they indicated that they had obtained the suspected diamond pieces from illegal mining activities they were carrying out around Chiadzwa diamond fields,” said Detective Sergeant Shanu.
He said the recovered diamonds will be taken to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) for assaying.
Online Reporter