By Own Correspondent- A Mutare man has been hauled before the courts on allegations of illegally dealing in diamonds after he was found in possession of six pieces of the precious gems in Zimunya.

Tendai Makurumidze (48) appeared before Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe for contravening Section 3( 1) as read with Section 3(2) of the Precious Stones Act Chapter 21:06.

He was remanded out of custody to 12 June on $500 bail.

Representing the state, prosecutor Chris Munyuku told the court that on May 27 this year, Detective Sergeant Mucharuona got information that the suspect was illegally dealing in diamonds.

Working on that tip off, the cop teamed up with Sergeant Major Manhivi and Sergeant Magune and tracked the suspect.

They stopped Makurumidze who was driving a Toyota Wish (ACF 4621) at 19 miles along the Mutare-Masvingo Highway.

The detectives conducted a search and found six pieces of diamonds in the pocket of a jacket the suspect was wearing.

The diamonds were recovered and taken to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) for assaying.-ManicaPost