Armed robbers steal four tonnes of gold in Zimbabwe

Four tonnes of gold ore were allegedly stolen by a 46 member gang from a small scale gold mine in Zimbabwe in two separate raids, state media reported on Wednesday.

The robbers allegedly beat up workers with iron bars and clubs.

One of the workers lost two fingers during one of the raids at the mine at Chev Chess Farm near Kadoma, a town about 140 kilometres south west of the capital Harare.

According to the Herald newspaper, the first group of 19 armed men went to the mine on June 8 at night driving pickup trucks.

“They were armed with catapults, stones, machetes, axes, knives, clubs and iron bars,” the paper quoted a police source saying.

The gang allegedly beat up farm workers before stealing gold ore which they loaded into their trucks before driving away.

Another group raided the mine on June 22 at night and used the same methods to steal three tonnes of gold ore.

A report was made to the police but no arrests have been made so far.

The owner of the mine Sam Munyoro confirmed the incident but refused to shed more light.