The Sunday News
Richard Muponde, Sunday News Correspondent
A POLICE officer based in Gwanda has been arrested after he allegedly stole a tonne of gold ore from Vumbachikwe Mine on Wednesday.
The police officer, Panaganai Chidzvororo (33) of ZRP New Camp in Gwanda indicated that he was not admitting to the charge when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mr Arafat Konzanai.
He was not asked to plead to theft and was granted $100 bail which he did not have in person and was remanded in custody until he pays the money. Chidzvororo will return to court on 1 November.
Allegations against him are that on Wednesday night, he connived with Sydney Ngwenya who is still at large to go to Vumbachikwe Central Shaft Mine. On arrival, they loaded a tonne of gold ore into a truck registration number ADH 6885.
However, their actions were noticed by two alert security guards. After loading the ore, they drove to Cindellera B Stamp Mill for milling.
The guards, however, made a follow up to the Stamp Mill and saw the truck leaving after having offloaded the alleged loot.
It was being escorted by a silver blue Mazda Demio allegedly belonging to Chidzvororo.
The guards informed their boss, Mr Benias Gomera, a security officer at Vumbachikwe Mine who reported the matter to the police.
Mr Gomera, in the company of two police officers went to the Stamp Mill where they recovered the gold ore amounting to a tonne after being assisted by the mill’s attendant, Mr Manuel Muzamba.
When they were still there, they allegedly received a call from Chidzvororo asking to meet them at a business centre in Spitzkop Suburb. They went there to meet him and he apologised to Mr Gomera and pleaded with him to take the ore back to the mine and not the police. He was immediately arrested but Ngwenya managed to escape and is still on the run.
