Men in court for searching for minerals without a ...

Men in court for searching for minerals without a permit

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Correspondent

Three men, who were allegedly found searching for gold ores unlawfully have been taken to court.

Thulani Makarichi, 33, Nyasha Ganyau, 26, and Tapiwa Ncube, 26, appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with prospecting for minerals without a licence or permit.

They will appear in court on June 27.

The complainant in this matter is Abel Nzaka, 41, employed by Mytrees as a Habitual Protection and Restoration Supervisor.

The State alleges that on of June 6, the three accused went to Blue Hills Farm, Lowdale, in search of gold ores.

Ganyau and Ncube then allegedly went into a shaft armed with 1 X range, 7 X chisels and 1 X small hammer which were in Ganyau's bag and they started extracting gold ores.

Makarichi remained outside.

The informant in this matter heard that there were illegal miners mining in the farm and he reported to the police.

They then went to the farm where they saw Makarichi standing outside the shaft.

Upon seeing the informant and police officers, he fled.

The officers chased and arrested him.

They allegedly searched and a flick knife and a machete were recovered from him.

The informant and the police officers went back to the shaft where Ganyau and Ncube were.

They were ordered to come out of the shaft and they complied.

They were searched the two and 1 x range, 7'x chisels and 1 x small hammer were recovered from Ganyau's bag.

The police officers asked the three if they had any licence or permit for prospecting for minerals in that farm and they failed to produce it, leading to their arrest.

On June 7, the case was handed over to CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit, Harare for further management.