HARARE – Government will leave no stone unturned in unearthing what transpired at the Robert Mugabe International Airport after 23 pieces of gold were smuggled from Zimbabwe into South Africa.
Debate on the security of the country’s ports of entry has been reignited after a suspect, Tashinga Nyasha Masinire, was recently found in possession of 23 pieces of gold allegedly smuggled from Zimbabwe into South Africa.
Masinire was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday by South Africa’s anti-organised crime unit, the Hawks, and is facing charges of contravening the Customs Act 91 of 1964 and Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Hon Kazembe Kazembe says government is working flat out to ensure the culprits are brought to book.
NewsDay
ZIMBABWE’S lax security at ports of entry and airports has come under spotlight again after Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president Henrietta Rushwaya’s ex-aide was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa while attempting to smuggle gold worth over US$780 000.
The suspect, Tashinga Nyasha Masinire (33), was yesterday granted R100 000 bail coupled with stringent reporting conditions by a Kempton Park regional magistrate in Gauteng province.
He was ordered to surrender his passport, not to leave South Africa before the finalisation of the matter and to report at the nearest police station three times a week.
The matter was remanded to July 1, 2021.
Tashinga Masinire was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday afternoon. (OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)
Zimbabwe Miners Federation head has distanced herself and the organisation from an ex-driver arrested in South Africa for alleged gold smuggling.
Tashinga Masinire was arrested after he was found with 23 pieces of gold in his luggage.
He is due back in court in July.
Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya has distanced herself from her former driver who was recently arrested at OR Tambo International Airport for allegedly smuggling gold. For the record, [he] stopped working for the Zimbabwe Miners Federation as a driver in August 2020, and for people now to be seen or wanting to associate him with Zimbabwe Miners Federation or myself, in particular, is a bit unfortunate.
Masinire aged 33 years old was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, April 9.
Masinire was traveling from Zimbabwe to South Africa and was found in possession of 23 pieces of gold worth R11 million (K627,880,000).
Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase, has confirmed the development while saying Masinire was released on R100, 000 (K5,708,000) bail.
Upon his arrival in South Africa, custom officials requested to scan Masinireâs luggage, during which the pieces of gold were found.
The suspect however failed to declare the gold, nor did he have a permit or license to possess it.
Masinire has since been ordered not to leave South Africa and to report to the nearest police station three times. He is expected back in court on 1 July.
US$780k gold smuggler linked to Rushwaya
BY MOSES MATENGA
ZIMBABWE’S lax security at ports of entry and airports has come under spotlight again after Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president Henrietta Rushwaya’s ex-aide was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa while attempting to smuggle gold worth over US$780 000.
The suspect, Tashinga Nyasha Masinire (33), was yesterday granted R100 000 bail coupled with stringent reporting conditions by a Kempton Park regional magistrate in Gauteng province.
He was ordered to surrender his passport, not to leave South Africa before the finalisation of the matter and to report at the nearest police station three times a week.