A Mutare magistrate on Friday released NewsDay journalist Moses Matenga on $20 bail after he was charged with possession of a precious stone.

Matenga was arrested during a Wednesday tour by civil society groups of the Chiadzwa diamond mining area after he was allegedly found with a stone.

He appeared before Mutare magistrate Anniah Ndiraya, facing charges of illegally possessing a precious stone and was not asked to plead.

The State is yet to prove that the stone was a diamond.

Truman Joma prosecuted.

Matenga is due to appear in court on March 16 this year.

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