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Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A POLICE constable, Dingumuzi Ncube, (35), has been arrested while a manhunt for a senior officer has been launched in connection with the theft of gold worth about $1 million from an armoury at Plumtree Police Station in Matabeleland South province.

Sources said a self-proclaimed prophet who was approached by Ncube on Thursday, a day after it was discovered that the gold was missing, blew the whistle leading to his arrest.

They said the Ncube was seeking prayers to evade arrest.

The sources said Ncube gave the prophet 8kgs of gold after asking him to pray for him so he could evade arrest.

The stolen gold weighing 28,5kg worth more than $970 000, was being kept as an exhibit at the station since September 2015.

The gold was recovered by members of the police Border Control and Minerals Unit who intercepted a man at Plumtree Border Post as he allegedly attempted to smuggle the gold into Botswana.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrest.

She said another police officer suspected to be involved in the theft was on the run.

Snr Asst Comm Charity Charamba said she could not give more details on the matter as that would jeopardise investigations.

“I can confirm that a police officer has been arrested in connection with the theft of 28,5kg of gold at Plumtree Police Station. The suspect is assisting police with investigations and unfortunately at the moment I can’t give more information as this will jeopardise investigations,” she said.

Ncube according to sources had allegedly bought three brand new vehicles, a Quantum , a Toyota Wish and a Toyota Regius.

The sources said police have since recovered $37 000 and 3kg of gold following Ncube’s arrest.

The theft of the gold was discovered on Wednesday at around 11AM by officers who were on duty.

Sources at the police station said the theft came to light as police officers were searching for two missing rifles that had been booked in the charge office.

When an officer went to check at the armoury for the missing rifles, he was surprised to find the armoury door not locked.

The sources said when the officer was about to open the armoury, he observed that there was a key inserted in the key hole of the  door.

“One of the officers who had knowledge about the gold kept in the armoury as an exhibit proceeded to the bucket where the gold weighing 28,5kg was kept wrapped in a khaki paper and discovered that the gold was missing.

The gold was seized from a suspect identified as Pudohope James Rove who had hidden it in a secret compartment in his vehicle’s loading box.

The suspect was driving a Toyota Hilux and was on his way to Botswana when he was intercepted at the exit gate after completing all immigration and Zimra formalities.

Detectives who were on duty stopped the vehicle and conducted a search. They discovered a false compartment in the loading box and upon carrying further searches, discovered 76 pieces of smelted gold which weighed 28,5kg. — @winnie_masara.