Police detectives from Chivhu on Sunday arrested a Bulawayo man suspected of stealing bitumen worth $4 million in April this year.
The bitumen was contained in 250 x 200-litre drums and stored at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development depot in Chivhu.
It was meant for the road widening project of the Harare – Beitbridge Highway.
Police arrested Artwell Mahakwa of Bulawayo after Lazarus Demo allegedly bought 85 drums of the bitumen from the former and an accomplice, Armstrong Mpotegwa in April. Mpotegwa is still at large.
In total, 115 drums were reportedly stolen on April 4, with 30 drums sold to Silvester Murwira who was found with the drums at his Ipomea Enterprises in Morningside, Bulawayo by the Police.
Mahakwa appeared before Magistrate Sam Chitumwa at Chivhu on Tuesday and was remanded in custody to August 9, 2019.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming that he only went to Chivhu to get his money from Mpotegwa.