Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
Police have impounded six tipper trucks loaded with suspected illegally mined gold ore at Phoenix Prince Mine, popularly known as Kitsiyatota, in a high-impact operation that has escalated a widening crackdown on illicit mining syndicates.
The trucks were intercepted within Mining Lease 21 (ML21), a site at the centre of escalating disputes over mining rights and alleged illegal extraction.
Authorities confirmed that the case is being investigated under a theft of gold ore docket (RRB 6420180), with police now pursuing alleged syndicate leader Sicelo “Stillo” Mbambo, who reportedly fled moments before the raid.
Mbambo is now wanted by police alongside trucks owner Stanley Kangoro, as investigations widen into what authorities describe as a suspected organised illegal mining network.
Sources say Mbambo abandoned six drivers and a contracted security team at the scene, all of whom are now assisting police with investigations.
Detectives are tracking his movements amid indications he had planned to travel to Zanzibar in June for private celebrations.
Law enforcement sources say financial flows linked to the alleged operation are also under scrutiny.
Preliminary investigations suggest the existence of an illicit profit-sharing arrangement that operated at Phoenix Prince Mine prior to a recent Government push to regularise artisanal miners.
Authorities allege that illegal miners retained a significant portion of extracted gold, with the remainder channelled through intermediaries within the contested mining area.
The mine falls under the jurisdiction of Freda Rebecca Gold Mine, the legally recognised holder of ML21, with oversight linked to Mutapa Gold Resources.
Police sources say Mbambo is suspected of operating outside the legal framework, allegedly extracting and disposing of gold ore without authorisation.
Investigators estimate that the suspected operation may have generated gold worth hundreds of thousands of US dollars, although officials emphasise that assessments are ongoing.
The operation follows heightened Government intervention after the death of a 26-year-old artisanal miner at the site earlier this week.
Authorities had issued prohibition orders citing “immediate and unacceptable risks to life,” raising concerns over continued illegal activity despite the warnings.
The latest action signals a shift toward stricter enforcement aimed at curbing illegal mining and safeguarding national mineral resources.
Questions sent to ZRP Bindura on the manhunt, the value of the seized ore, and possible cross-border alerts had not been answered by the time of publication.
Police have urged Mbambo to surrender himself to the nearest station.
