mbulelo smpofu
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, sukulwenkosi.dube@chronicle.co.zw
A seven-man-gang has appeared in court facing allegations of stealing 230 bags of gold ore from Olympus Mine in Gwanda.
The accused persons — Mcebisi Nyoni, Mthokozisi Maphosa, Paddington Nkomo, Christopher Dube, Raymond Makurane, Nomatter Ncube and Proud Ncube — were not asked to plead when they appeared on initial remand before Gwanda provincial magistrate, Ms Patience Madondo facing a robbery charge.
They were remanded out of custody to December 12 on US$50 bail.
District public prosecutor, Mr Shepherd Moyo, said the accused were armed with a machete, hammer, knives and a metal rod and attacked a security guard at the mine.
“On 20 November at around 7.30PM the accused persons and others who are still at large, while armed with a machete, hammer, knives and metal rod arrived at Olympus Mine where they threatened the complainant,” he said.
“They demanded gold ore from the complainant stating that they wanted to raise money for Christmas.
“The complainant fled from the mine leaving the accused persons behind. The accused persons then stole 230 bags of gold ore from a shaft. They used a car, which they had hired to transport the gold ore from the mine to an unknown destination.”
Mr Moyo said the matter was reported to the police who conducted investigations leading to the arrest of the driver whom the accused persons had hired to transport their loot.
He said the driver then led the police to the seven accused persons leading to their arrest. —@DubeMatutu
