Nasty tussle over gold

GOLD ore worth US$20 000 was allegedly stolen at gunpoint at a Penhalonga gold mine as an ownership dispute between John Chinonzwa and Tawanda Manyangadze turned nasty, The Manica Post has learnt.

Chinonzwa and Manyangadze’s mining activities are said to be encroaching underground, thereby resulting in skirmishes.

Operations at the mine have since been stopped.

Nine people have been arrested in connection with the armed robbery.

The nine suspects recently appeared before a Mutare magistrate charged with robbery.

Innocent Chinonzwa, Lovemore Chinonzwa, Maxwell Masamvu, Bright Mabonore, John Mbeu, Wiskes Kovhiwa, Marlon Maringa, Wellington Moyo and Terrence Mukodza were not asked to plead when they were arraigned before magistrate, Ms Priscilla Manhibi, last week on Friday. They were remanded in custody to June 26. Prosecuting, Mr Chris Munyuku said the nine raided Monarch 11B Mine’s underground tunnel on May 15 at around 7pm as George Mushati, Shadreck Nyabeze and Thomas Maara were working.

Moyo was armed with a loaded CZ VZOR pistol serial number 183654.

The gang threatened to kill the three miners if they did not surrender their gold ore.

The nine suspects then grabbed 10x25kg bags of gold ore.

When the trio tried to resist the move, Moyo allegedly fired a single shot.

After the gang sped off from the mine, a police report was made.

In conducting investigations, a spent cartridge was recovered from the crime scene.

When the police sent it to the Criminal Investigation Department’s Forensic Unit, ballistic tests proved that Moyo’s gun had fired the spent cartridge.

Manicaland provincial mining director, Mr Omen Dube said they had suspended mining operations at the mine.

“We are handling a dispute between Manyangadze and Chinonzwa, whose mining activities are said to be encroaching underground, thereby resulting in skirmishes.

“We were informed that the ZRP is investigating a case where one of the parties - (Chinonzwa)’s syndicate — is said to have used a firearm underground, which is an unacceptable safety and health situation for continued operations.

“Taking that into account, operations at Claim G618 (Manyangadze’s claim) and G3764 (Chinonzwa’s claim) have been suspended with immediate effect pending the resolving of the dispute,” wrote Mr Dube to the two parties.