12 nabbed after chaos at AFGEM quarry

by Happy Lazaro

Twelve small scale miners have appeared in court for allegedly causing chaos in Mererani mining area.

Appearing before the Resident Magistrate, Rosalia Mugissa, they were accused of invading Block "C" mining quarry and vandalizing valuable property before hitting a Police officer.

The quarry belongs to a South African mining Company, African Gemstone (AFGEM) Limited and the destroyed property was listed as the company’s vehicle a Toyota Land Cruiser ARU887 which had its windscreen smashed.

Public prosecutor, Inspector Hassan Nuru, told the court that the incident occurred on the 8^th of October this year at about 2.30 p.m.

Inspector Nuru, added that, a Police officer who was in-charge at the quarry,1735 PC Jerome, was also hit on his forehead by a stone, allegedly hurled by one of the defendants.

The Police officer, according to the charges, was badly wounded in the chaos which also caused a loss of Tsh.100,000.

The accused who appeared in court included: Simon Midimi (33), Sande Labora (20), Michael Peter (22), Chigala Riti (18), Sagala Thomas (38) and Amani Kisoha (28).

Others include: Godfrey Lucas (24), Rahman Rashid (19), Obeid Zacharia (35), Ramadhan Amir (21), James Peter (24) and Boniface Phillip (18). All are residents of Arusha municipality. The defendants have all denied the charges and are out on individual bails of Tsh.1 million each, with two sureties. Their case is set to come up for mention on the 13^th of November this year.

Last modified: October 23, 2003.
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