POLICE have arrested a 32-year-old man on charges of stealing tar worth $94 000 that was meant for the Harare-Masvingo Highway dualisation.

National Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the accused, Artwell Mahakwa, was arrested in Bulawayo following a tip-off.

It is alleged that between March 4 and 6 this year, the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry received 250×200-litre drums of tar in Chivhu.

The accused then teamed up with his accomplice, who is still at large, and stole 115 drums and hid them in Bulawayo.

“Acting on a tip-off which was received recently, police in Chivhu proceeded to Bulawayo, where they arrested the accused and recovered tar valued at $24521,71. Total value of tar that was stolen is $94 000,” Nyathi said.

There was uproar in the country when the tar went missing and questions were raised over government’s seriousness in working on the road, which has become a death trap.