FORMER Zimbabwe Miners Federation president, Trynos Nkomo, was back in court again on Tuesday for illegal mining from which he realised over four kilogrammes valued at about $120 000.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Nkomo, who is jointly charged with his former mining partner, Sifanjani Moyo, on allegations of contravening sections of the Mines and Minerals Act and Gold Trade Act respectively (mining without a written permission from the mining commissioner and Transporting Gold ore for stamping without a permit).
They were both not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Willard Moyo, and were remanded out of custody to February 10.
Prosecutor, Takunda Mafudze told the court that between August 8 and September 6 last year, Nkomo and Moyo were involved in illegal gold mining at Mdlongwa Farm without mining certificates. Nkomo has reportedly since registered it as Bunny Luck 2 Mine.
About 206 tonnes of gold ore has been moved and transported to Chigango Stamp Mill, where it was processed.
The offence came to light when the two partners began to fight over proceeds.
Nkomo allegedly rushed to the Bulawayo High Court, got an order from Justice Martin Makonese barring Moyo from the mine before registering it in his name. He also got a mining certificate on September 9.
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Last week, Nkomo appeared in court for allegedly discharging a firearm during a salary dispute with his workers.
Nkomo is not new to controversy. In 2013, he was convicted by Gwanda Magistrate, Sheila Nazombe, for deliberately supplying false information to the police in a deal that reportedly involved then Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
Mujuru disowned Nkomo, who was subsequently fined $250 or three months in jail for lying. Nkomo was also accused of duping a Botswana partner of $135 000 in a mining deal in the same year.
