Judgment in a matter, where three senior Kwekwe police officers are being charged with operating a gold mine in contravention of the Police Act, was yesterday deferred to tomorrow owing to the unavailability of the presiding Gweru provincial magistrate, Pathekhile Msipa.
by Stephen Chadenga
Superintendents Temba Mpofu, Tambudzai Muchineuta and Batsirai Mungwa two weeks ago appeared before Msipa charged with operating a gold mine without the approval of the Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri.
However, the fourth suspect, Chief Superintendent Fiona Hlomani, had charges against her withdrawn before plea. The three cops were brought before Msipa after requesting to be tried by a magistrate from the Judicial Service Commission as opposed to the police disciplinary committee.
They were all represented by Tonderai Chitere.
The trio denied the charges, arguing they were granted a gold mine tribute, but were still looking for possible partners, hence could not be said to have been operating a mine venture.
The top cops maintained they were going to notify their superiors in the event that they were going to start operations at the mine.
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“Accused person two (Mpofu), three (Muchineuta) and four (Mungwa) did not conduct any business because, even though they entered into a contract for mining, they had no capacity because they had no equipment and money required and they could not seek authority for business venture they were unable to embark on,” the suspects said in their defence outlines.
Prosecutor Munyaradzi Guveya told the court that between December last year and February this year and at Bell 3, Consolidated Gold Mines in Kwekwe, the suspects unlawfully engaged in gold mining activities without Chihuri’s approval.
