BINDURA - Police arrested the chairperson for Mashonaland Central Women In Mining in connection with fraud charges involving over $9 000 and contravening Mines and Mineral Act Chapter 21:05 after she failed to furnish statutory labour returns and operations reports.
Shantell Mbereko(46) has since appeared before Bindura magistrate, Mercy Masamvi who remanded her out of custody on $50 bail to June 6 for trial. She is denying the charges.
Representing the state, prosecutor Clement Kuwanda said last year in February, Mbereko received $4 900 from a group of 101 women who wanted her to facilitate a licence for gold claim at Ran Mine under the Women In Mining Syndicate.
Mbereko is alleged to have converted the money into personal use. The court was also told that she failed to furnish the returns of her mining activities to the Mine Commissioner, thus contravening the Mines and Mineral Act.
An affidavit from Harare District Mine Commissioner, Pidious Shumba, was presented in court as evidence that she was the owner of Rass Mining syndicate and Chehumambe mining and no returns and reports were submitted.
Kuwanda also said Mbereko prospected for gold and transported 102.2 tonnes of ore to Canterbury Milling Company, but did not furnish the Mining Commissioner with returns or reports.
She is also charged with defrauding fellow mining syndicate Chehumambe members of $4 287.
Post published in: Economy