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A 45-year-old man from Gwalia Farm in Beatrice, Cephas Mukombwe, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being caught with two illegally held diamonds worth just US$174.93.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The diamonds were discovered in Mukombwe’s possession during a police sting operation in Harare’s central business district. According to court proceedings, the precious stones were found on April 4 while Mukombwe attempted to sell them to an undercover detective posing as a buyer.
Harare magistrate Mr. Isheunesu Matova handed down the mandatory sentence, ruling that Mukombwe’s actions posed a threat to the country’s mineral integrity, regardless of the diamonds’ low value.
Prosecutor Ms. Faith Mavudzi, assisted by police officer Edmore Godo, told the court that Mukombwe had been working with an accomplice, Emanuel Chikono, to find buyers for the diamonds. Unbeknownst to Mukombwe, Chikono had alerted the police and coordinated the sting with Detective Constable Sheshe.
The arrest took place at the corner of Patrice Lumumba Street and Leonid Brezhnev Avenue in Harare at around 11:45 a.m. During a search, Mukombwe voluntarily produced the stones from his wallet, which the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe later verified to be genuine diamonds weighing 1.64 carats.
In his defence, Mukombwe claimed he discovered the diamonds while making bricks and had intended to hand them over to the police, arguing he was unaware that possession of such stones without a licence was a criminal offence.
However, the prosecution dismissed his claims, stating that his version of events lacked credibility and did not amount to special circumstances that could reduce the mandatory jail term.
“The accused’s ignorance of the law cannot be used as an excuse,” said Ms. Mavudzi. “Possession of precious stones without a permit is a serious offence, and the law requires strict adherence to proper procedures.”
Magistrate Matova concurred, stressing that such offences undermine efforts to protect Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth. He imposed the five-year custodial sentence as required by law, warning that illegal dealings in precious stones would be met with zero tolerance.
