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Crime Reporter
Police have arrested three men at Anjin Mine at Chiadzwa for allegedly possessing 17 pieces of diamonds. The suspects are Holder Mvura (25), Tafadzwa Tioneseyi (26) and Trinity Bwanali (23).

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrests yesterday.

“The suspects were arrested for illegal possession of 17 pieces of diamonds at Anjin Mine, Mutare, on February 28, 2016.

“The trio was approached by police details that were on patrol at the mine and questioned them for entering into a restricted area,” she said.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the trio was searched and police recovered 14 pieces of diamonds from Mvura, while Tioneseyi had two pieces and Bwanali had one.

“Police are warning members of the public against possession of diamonds without a permit,” she said.

Last week, a five-member ministerial delegation visited Chiadzwa diamond fields on a fact-finding mission after panners stormed the area after Government ordered all companies to cease operations and vacate the area within 90 days.

Police arrested 50 villagers.

All firms that were ordered to cease operations had not renewed their licences as stipulated by the Mines and Minerals Act.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said all the affected companies’ three-year licences had expired.

The delegation — comprising Dr Ignatius Chombo (Home Affairs), Dr Chris Mushohwe (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services), Dr Lazarus Dokora (Primary and Secondary Education) and Mandi Chimene (Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs) — toured premises of all the affected firms where police have taken over security provisions.

The affected firms include Mbada Diamonds, Diamond Mining Company (DMC), Jinan and Anjin.

Marange Resources, which is 100 percent owned by the Government, is still operating and has invested in new state-of-the-art equipment.