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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent—
TWO Masvingo men have been arrested for trying to smuggle about 3,2kg of gold valued at $112,000 through the Plumtree Border Post. Taurayi Mudzviti, 36, and Joshua Mabika, 40, who operate Big Nugget Syndicate Mine in Masvingo yesterday appeared before Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa facing charges of possessing gold without a licence and smuggling.

They were not asked to plead and were remanded to December 7 on $1,100 bail each. Ruvetsa ordered the pair to report at Chikato Police Station in Masvingo on Mondays and Saturdays between 6am and 6pm. He also ordered them to reside at their places of residence until the matter is finalised and not to interfere with state witnesses.

The accused are being represented by Robson Mahachi of Tavengwa Hara and Partners. Prosecuting, Stanley Chinyanganya said the two men were arrested last Thursday at the Plumtree Border Post exit gate while on their way to Botswana and two gold bars and 12 buttons were recovered hidden in their vehicle.

He said the pair failed to produce an export permit for the yellow mineral. “On November 19, Mudzviti and Mabika arrived at the Plumtree Border Post in a Nissan Elgrand vehicle that was being driven by Mabika. They went through all border formalities and proceeded to the exit gate where they surrendered their gate pass.

“Detectives from the minerals and border control unit who were on surveillance at the exit gate stopped the vehicle and instructed the driver to return to the border complex for a search,” said Chinyanganya.

He said when the detectives were about to search the vehicle Mudzviti pleaded with them to stop and he produced the gold which was wrapped in a paper and hidden under the vehicle floor carpet under a passenger seat. He said the detectives recovered the gold which weighed about 3,2kg valued at about $111,500, resulting in the immediate arrest of the pair.