Police arrest six in latest Zama Zama bust
Despite seeing several of their countrymen locked up for illegal mining this year alone, the lure of gold in and around the second city remains irresistible for many Zimbabweans.
During a routine midday patrol on Thursday, the cops busted six more suspected Zama Zamas at the abandoned Old Shashe Mine on the outskirts of Block 7.
The six men: Vincent Nyathi, 37; Sipho Nkomo, 19; Sibanda Thinashe, 18; Micheal Ncube, 30; Chuma Morgan, 40; and Morelast Ndebele 27; were arraigned before Francistown Magistrates’ Court the next morning, a few sporting the side-effects of their brush with the law.
Like so many before them, as well as the mining misdemeanor, the six were each hit with an additional charge of being in Botswana illegally, to which they all promptly pleaded guilty.
Although plea for the mining offence was reserved, the border-jumpers told court they would be conducting their own defences.
They will have to plan their arguments in prison, however, as, lacking the relevant travel documents, they were deemed a flight risk and remanded in custody.
They return to court on 12th October for facts reading and status update.
Meanwhile, one Zimbo who spoke to Voice Online on condition of anonymity revealed illegal mining was a good source of income for his homeboys.
“Batswana are not serious; they are sleeping on top of gold not thinking of how it can make them rich. They should join the Zimbabweans and make some money. When you mine, you keep the other money aside knowing that when you get arrested you have the money to pay the fine at court and be released,” he declared confidently.
