SMM Holdings loses $200 000 equipment

POLICE have arrested a 75-year-old man from Athlone high- density suburb in Gweru after he allegedly stole mining equipment worth $200 000 from defunct Shabanie Mashava Mines and sold it to a nearby miner.

Michael George Hughes, who is the director of Tebekwe Mine and a co-tributor to Matovu Investments and Tebekwe Sands (Pvt) Ltd, was arraigned before Gweru magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda facing theft charges.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody to April 28 on free bail.

Prosecuting, Mr Lloyd Mavhisa, told the court that in 2009, Hughes entered into a tribute agreement with Shabanie Mashava Mines Holdings and took over mining operations and equipment at Tebekwe Mine including a hoist used to recover ores from underground shafts to the surface.

The court heard that on a date unknown to the prosecutor, but during the year 2011, Hughes stole one hoist and its accessories and sold it to Collen Thompson of Green Hume Mine.

“The offence was discovered by Smelly Dube, who is his co-tributor, who then made a report to the police,” said Mr Mavhisa.

The prosecutor told the court that investigations were made leading to the recovery of the property at Green Hume Mine in Lower Gweru.

The stolen equipment is valued at $200 000 and was recovered.