21 illegal miners arrested as police intensify operations 

Source: 21 illegal miners arrested as police intensify operations | The Herald

Crime Reporter 

Police are stepping up their success rate as they go after serious criminals, with at least 21 illegal miners who were part of a group that raided a mine in Norton having been arrested, while the law enforcers intensify their crackdown on other criminal operations being conducted countrywide.

 The illegal miners were arrested under an operation code-named “Restore Sanity’’.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said other operations being conducted were also continuing, with notable arrests being made. 

“On May 27, 2022, police in Norton apprehended 21 illegal gold and chrome miners at the Mutubva Chrome mining site as part of an operation code-named ‘’Restore Sanity,’’ which aims to curb cases of robberies and murders in and around Norton purportedly committed by the illegal miners,” he said. 

“Police recovered two compressor engines, a generator, a pressure pump, a water pump, a chrome safe, a windless stand, six picks, seven shovels, four hummers, and two axes during the operation.”

On May 24, members of the National Taskforce attached to the operation “No to Cross Border Crimes” also arrested Boniface Gwatiringa (22) for bribery at Beitbridge Border Post.

The suspect had offered R20 bribe to the police to solicit his release after he was arrested for smuggling two boxes of bath soap.

Police in Glendale arrested Christopher Zuze (28) and David Zoma (20) on May 26 for stealing aluminium pipes from Glengrey Farm. 

Based on a tip off, police officers pounced on the suspects guarding the stolen goods, resulting in the recovery of 21×10 meters of aluminium pipes and the subsequent arrest of the two.

On May 25, police in Beitbridge arrested Dumisani Ronewa Moyo (26) and Jonathan Suzireni (18) after being found in possession of dangerous drugs at a house in Mfelandawonye. 

Police recovered 31 sachets of Crystal Methamphetamine, a sachet of mbanje, and a 100ml bottle of Benylin Cough syrup from the suspects.

Police in Highfield, Harare, have arrested Allan Kudzanai Masawi, a wanted person who was being sought for several cases which include a robbery case where he robbed a person of US$1 010 cash in the suburb on April 14, three cases of assault, three cases of theft, one case of malicious damage to property and a case of indecent assault.

In Chipinge, police also swiftly reacted to a tip off and arrested three fuel tanker drivers, Kenneth Nyamafeni (25), Walter Chigamba (38) and Danmore Kandiado (41) for allegedly smuggling approximately 50 000 litres of diesel through Southdowns illegal entry point.