Zimbabweans implicated in illegal gold mining

The State alleges that the quartet, Msix Moyo (42), Ishmael Moyo (17), Phumlani Moyo (27) and Peter Moyo (23), and their Zimbabwean accomplice, Artwell Ndlovu (23), committed the offence on November 15, 2021 between Matsiloje and the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) training centre. All the accused, who are unemployed, are also facing another charge of entering Botswana through an ungazetted point of entry on November 15, 2021 at or near Ramokgwebana village. When the accused appeared before Magistrate Thabang Chokwe, prosecutor Sesafeleng Dijeng made an application for the accused to be remanded in custody.

The Investigation Officer, Constable Isichwala Jotia, told the court that on the date the offences allegedly happened, he was from Matopi to Matsiloje Police Station. “Upon arrival at the office, I received a phone call from the detachment commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) to the effect that they had arrested five suspected illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe whom they found in possession of some stones they suspected to be minerals. I then engaged my colleagues and went to the alleged scene of crime.