Police grab gold and diamonds for Harare syndicate

, and then handing them over to the vice president’s managers in Harare.
“I have been sent by him (the senior officer) to take the minerals from villagers, some who would be forced to sleep or spend several days and nights in cells,” said a source. “We would be paid directly by the police officer and we only later discovered about the syndicate as well as how he was earning huge amounts of money.”
Another source revealed details of how the syndicate operates: “He has put a system in place whereby all the cases involving gold and diamond are handled by him. We are aware of how all the diamond and gold confiscated is taken to Harare. There is also the involvement of other senior police officials in Harare.”
Illegal mining and panning have increased as Zimbabweans are faced with the worsening economic recession. – Itai Dzamara