Police in Mzimba have arrested Stanley Masiku aged 25 for illegally mining clear Quartz – a semi precious stone in the Perekezi forest in the district.

According to Mzimba police spokesperson Peter Botha, Masiku was arrested on Wednesday following a tip that he was extracting the semi precious stones at Luwasazi within the forest.

Masiku was using an excavator and had mounted a tent as his shelter in the forest.

Stanley Masiku is from Mindano Village in Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba district.