Chinese National Convicted for Stealing Over $875,000 Worth of Gold from Local Miner

A well-coordinated syndicate, involving a Chinese national and a mines official, has been exposed for stealing over $875,000 worth of gold from a local small-scale miner in Mashonaland East's Makaha area. The syndicate, led by Zheng Zhangxian, had been operating illegally, with Reajin Enterprises, Zheng's questionably registered company, receiving a restitution order of $875,667.67. The group, which also included a Zimbabwean partner, Vengai Kurarama, had been mining 75 metres below the surface of the local miner's claim, stealing over 5,000 tonnes of gold ore.

Key Takeaways:

Zheng Zhangxian, a Chinese national, was convicted for stealing over $875,000 worth of gold from a local small-scale miner in Mashonaland East's Makaha area.
Reajin Enterprises, Zheng's company, received a restitution order of $875,667.67 and was fined $3,000 for contravening Section 113(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and Section 379 of the Mines and Minerals Act.
Investigations revealed a well-coordinated syndicate involving Zheng, a mines official, and a Zimbabwean partner, Vengai Kurarama, who formed a partnership to mine gold in the Makaha area.
Takura Mining Syndicate, which held a Special Grant, was operating as a partnership with a Zimbabwean partner, Vengai Kurarama, and was next to the local miner's claim from which they knowingly stole gold ore.
The syndicate was operating illegally, with the group mining 75 metres below the surface of the local miner's claim, stealing over 5,000 tonnes of gold ore.
Investigations revealed that Mines Ministry Inspector, Anthony Singende, who was part of the ministry's investigating team, was paid a $350 bribe to curtail investigations and sanction continued blasting on the property against ministry guidelines.
Singende's criminal case is being pursued at the Marondera Magistrates Court.
A report following investigations recommended that Takura Mining Syndicate cease mining operations within the boundary of Ndemera and construct a containment wall 6m inside their own boundary, as mandated by Statutory Instrument (SI) 109 of 1990 (Mine Management and Safety Regulations).
The ore was processed at the Chinese-owned Zhangveng Milling Plant, which was exposed to have been operating illegally in the country.

Statistics:

Over $875,000 worth of gold was stolen from a local small-scale miner in Mashonaland East's Makaha area.
Reajin Enterprises received a restitution order of $875,667.67.
5,000 tonnes of gold ore were stolen by the syndicate.
A $350 bribe was paid to Mines Ministry Inspector, Anthony Singende, to curtail investigations.
Takura Mining Syndicate was operating 75 metres below the surface of the local miner's claim.

Sources:

Documents from the Mines Ministry, sourced by NewZimbabwe.com
Mutoko Regional Magistrates Court ruling