Two armed robbers on Tuesday reportedly pounced on Duration Gold’s Queen’s Mine in Inyathi district, Matabeleland North, and stole gold concentrate and cellphones worth more than $3 000.
Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Siphiwe Makonese yesterday said the robbers stormed the mine at about 2am after scaling a fence.
She said one of the robbers was armed with an AK 47 assault rifle while the other had a pistol. “One of the robbers was wearing a khaki dust coat, blue jeans and a black mask while the other one was wearing a white mask and black jersey.
“They jumped over the security fence on the eastern side of the mine and proceeded to the gold plant,” Makonese said.
“At the gold plant, they ordered the mine employees who were on duty to go to the laboratory before ordering them to lie down.
“The suspected robber with the pistol then searched the employees and took away six cellphones worth $170 before assaulting one of the employees with a rifle butt until it broke.” Makonese said after taking away the cellphones, the suspects went to the gold concentrate storage box, broke two padlocks and took away about 8kg of gold concentrate valued at $3 000.
The robbers later fled the scene and disappeared into the dark. Makonese said investigations were underway and police expected to make arrests soon.
