Senior cop in trouble over gold ore

A senior officer from the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit was arrested on Saturday for possession of two bags of what was suspected to be gold ore while in the company of two civilian accomplices.
Chief Inspector Ncube of Yankee Troop, who was deployed for Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere/Isitsheketsha Kasiphele and No to Machete Wielding Gangs at Jumbo Mine, Mazowe was arrested for criminal abuse of office as a public officer and transporting gold ore without a licence.
According to an internal police memorandum seen by Nhau, Ncube was clad in civilian attire and armed with a Tokarev pistol travelling along Bindura–Harare Road in a Honda Fit with vehicle registration number AFG 0053.
The vehicle was being driven by Plan Rangisi (46) of Jumbo Mine, Mazowe with Trust Chipatarongo (33) of House Number 9009 Manyame Park, Chitungwiza also aboard the same vehicle.
Their Honda Fit was following behind an army Toyota Fortuner being driven by Private Lameck Katikiti (29) of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in the company of a ZNA Security Patrol Team under the command of Sergeant George Musona of State House Barracks.
When the Toyota Fortuner approached the Eskbank Tollgate along Mazowe road, it by-passed the tollgate while the Honda Fit followed suit.
This prompted, Sgt Musona to disembark from the army vehicle, to inquire why the driver of the Honda Fit was bypassing a tollgate.
The three suspects’ responses could not satisfy the security patrol team leading them to search the vehicle upon which they recovered two sacks of suspected gold ore subsequently arresting the Ncube and his accomplices.
The trio was taken to Marlborough Police Station before being transferred to CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit where they are currently being held.
Upon further interrogation, Ranjisi, the driver of the Honda Fit alleged that he was hired by Chief Inspector Ncube and one Chapatarongo to transport them with their gold ore from Jumbo to Harare.
Cops and other civil servants have been engaging in gold panning to supplement their low salaries. Nhau/Indaba