Zvishavane Man Jailed Two Years for Illegal Gold Mining

 

Rutendo Mazhindu- Zim Now Reporter

A 25-year-old man from Zvishavane has been jailed for two years after he was caught illegally prospecting for gold without a licence.

Rangarirai Ngwenya was convicted by the Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court yesterday, following his arrest on September 7 in the Mabula area, after detectives acted on a tip-off.

The court heard that detectives found Ngwenya at a stream actively extracting gold using a shovel, a long chisel, and a plastic bucket.

 When asked to produce a valid prospecting licence or permit, he failed to do so. The tools were confiscated and tendered in court as exhibits.

Ngwenya was charged with contravening the Mines and Minerals Act, which criminalises unauthorised gold prospecting. He was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison.