HARARE, Aug.6 (NewsDay Live)- A Harare man was brought to court this Thursday for conducting illegal gold mining activities in the city's leafy Marlborough suburb.
The suspect, Chiripayi Chipandire, appeared before magistrate Artwell Sanyatwe, who granted him US$500 bail.
Chipandire, represented by lawyer Tawanda Takaindisa, is being charged with illegal possession of explosives, blasting and prospecting for minerals without a valid licence.
It is the State's case that sometime in early 2024, Chipandire met Douglas Walsh in central Harare, and the latter allegedly told him that there was a hidden treasure at stand Number 4 Wallington Close Marlborough, Harare.
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Chipandire immediately hired an excavator and started excavating close to the property, only to be stopped by the residents.
He then approached the property owner, who permitted him to hunt for the alleged treasure. He later formalised the operations with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Sometime in January 2025, the residents complained again, leading to a brief suspension of the operations.
The accused later resumed his mining activities without the requisite documents from the ministry.
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On July 17 this year, Chipandire's employees were arrested at the scene, and police recovered explosives, cab fuses, drill bit, windlass, rope, demolition hammer and bunga made of conveyor belts.
