MUTARE - A 36-year-old man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly stealing 50kg of gold ore from Penhalonga Lead Mine.
Binza Ndaayacho of Zengeni village under Chief Mutasa was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Makamera Waini yesterday.
He was remanded in custody to September 5.
It is the State’s case that on August 23, at 00:45 hours, two security guards Tapfumanei Munechisvo and Morris Hazvinavarwi, saw the shadow of a person disappear into a mining shaft. They said they looked around but could not see anyone.
They decided to lie in wait to ascertain if indeed there was someone in the shaft. They heard sounds of digging after 30 minutes.
The two security guards then laid an ambush for Ndaayacho, whom they apprehended with a 50kg sack of gold ore.
He also had a crow bar and a torch. He was apprehended in the early hours of August 24, as he emerged from the shaft.
Magistrate Waini advised him to either seek legal counsel or prepare his own defence.
Cuthbert Bhosha was prosecuting.