Miner implicates VP Mujuru in gold externalization

Zimbabwe Miners Federation ZMF) president, Trynos Nkomo (47) has implicated Vice President Joice Mujuru in his alleged offense of externalising gold.

Nkomo has been arrested for allegedly lying to detectives that he was into a mining partnership with V P Mujuru.

Nkomo appeared before Gwanda magistrate Ms Sheila Nazombe facing charges of criminal insult (impairing the dignity of VP Mujuru) or alternatively charges of deliberately supplying false information to a public authority by saying that VP Mujuru was his partner in a company called Matshamahle Mining Private Limited.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody on his own cognisance to 14 October.

Nkomo said the police fabricated the story to damage the VP's reputation. Deputy Director in VP Mujuru's office, Mr Wonder Aaron Pambana who stood in as state witness said there was no partnership between VP Mujuru and Nkomo.

An affidavit signed by VP Mujuru on 18 September this year and produced in court read that there was no business relationship existing or which once existed between VP Mujuru and Nkomo.

"I want to categorically state that I do not have any interest in the so called Matshamahle Mining Pvt Ltd neither do I have any shares in that company.

"Such utterances that are made by the accused person are malicious and tend to discredit my reputation and that of my office," said VP Mujuru.

According to the state, Nkomo was approached by detectives from Minerals Unit after receiving information that he was externalizing gold.

After being asked to produce gold dealing license, Nkomo is alleged to have told the detectives that he did not have the papers with him but instead where in Harare with his partner, VP Mujuru.

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Government investigates impact of cyanide at Hwange National Park

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has dispatched a team of inspectors to Hwange National Park to evaluate the impact of cyanide poisoning on water sources.

The move is meant to preserve human and animal life at the park following the death of more than 80 elephants which were poisoned by poachers.

Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Directorate confirmed the development. Dr Nyasha Masuka said the ministry has sent a team to collect samples of water from water sources.

"We are on high alert as a ministry about the cyanide poisoning at the Hwange National Park. Probably this has affected the environment and the general ecosystem. We have sent a team of health inspectors to the park to assess the situation and take samples to see if the water sources are safe," said Dr Masuka.

"We expect our inspectors to submit a report on their findings today so that we take appropriate measures to ensure that the public is safe."

Meanwhile, a man who allegedly hired two villagers in Tsholotsho to administer poison at elephants' watering holes has applied for bail. Chitsa applied for bail through his lawyer Mr Liberty Mcijo, of Mcijo, Dube and Partners arguing that the magistrate's court had misdirected itself by refusing to grant him bail.

The bail application is yet to be set down for hearing at the Bulawayo High Court.

Chitsa, and the Mafu brothers are being charged with contravening Section 24(1)(b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Chapter 20:14 'hunting without authority' and Section 73(1) of the Environmental Management Agency Act, Chapter 20:27.