News / National
Armed robbers get away with 400kg of concentrated diamond ore
29 Dec 2011 at 17:50hrs | Views
TEN armed robbers recently vanished with 400kg of concentrated diamond ore at Chiadzwa after pouncing on a broken down Marange Resources truck that was transporting it for processing, The Herald reported.
The robbers, who were armed with an AK rifle and catapults, ambushed two security guards who had been seconded to secure the broken down truck.
They manhandled the guards, forced them to lie on the ground before disappearing with the loot into the darkness.
Manicaland police spokesman Inspector Leonard Chabata confirmed the robbery, which happened on Unity Day.
He said the police's Mineral Unit was hunting down the suspects.
"A truck belonging to Marange Resources full of concentrated diamond ore broke down in the fields.
"It was transporting the ore to the processing plant. After it broke down, the two security guards were left to look after the truck and the load.
"At around 1am, 10 robbers pounced on the truck. They told the guards to lie down, but one of the guards refused. He was shot with a catapult on the back and he complied.
"They took the guard's communication radio and looted the diamond ore. They stashed the ore into sacks. The robbers were disturbed by a car which passed through, and fled," he said.
Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland (Operations) Assistant Commissioner David Mahoya said they are working flat out to track down the robbers. He said the robbers did not only steal the diamond ore, but also trespassed into the fields.
"This is a serious case in which the State has lost revenue through theft. Our mission is to recover the looted diamonds and make sure that what belongs to the people of Zimbabwe is brought back.
"We cannot have a situation whereby robbers sneak into the fields and ambush trucks. The Minerals Unit will get to the bottom of the robbery and bring to book those involved.
"The fact that the robbers were so many, numbering up to 10, indicates that this was a planned thing," he said.
Asst Comm Mahoya reminded people that the diamond fields were a no go area and trespassers will be prosecuted.
He said the duty of the police is to ensure that companies mining the diamonds do so without interference from criminals.
"Let those who were licensed to mine do their work peacefully without hindrance. We shall deal with all criminal elements in Chiadzwa," he said.
The robbers, who were armed with an AK rifle and catapults, ambushed two security guards who had been seconded to secure the broken down truck.
They manhandled the guards, forced them to lie on the ground before disappearing with the loot into the darkness.
Manicaland police spokesman Inspector Leonard Chabata confirmed the robbery, which happened on Unity Day.
He said the police's Mineral Unit was hunting down the suspects.
"A truck belonging to Marange Resources full of concentrated diamond ore broke down in the fields.
"It was transporting the ore to the processing plant. After it broke down, the two security guards were left to look after the truck and the load.
"At around 1am, 10 robbers pounced on the truck. They told the guards to lie down, but one of the guards refused. He was shot with a catapult on the back and he complied.
Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland (Operations) Assistant Commissioner David Mahoya said they are working flat out to track down the robbers. He said the robbers did not only steal the diamond ore, but also trespassed into the fields.
"This is a serious case in which the State has lost revenue through theft. Our mission is to recover the looted diamonds and make sure that what belongs to the people of Zimbabwe is brought back.
"We cannot have a situation whereby robbers sneak into the fields and ambush trucks. The Minerals Unit will get to the bottom of the robbery and bring to book those involved.
"The fact that the robbers were so many, numbering up to 10, indicates that this was a planned thing," he said.
Asst Comm Mahoya reminded people that the diamond fields were a no go area and trespassers will be prosecuted.
He said the duty of the police is to ensure that companies mining the diamonds do so without interference from criminals.
"Let those who were licensed to mine do their work peacefully without hindrance. We shall deal with all criminal elements in Chiadzwa," he said.
Source - TH
