A 25-year-old man from Zvishavane has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of illegal gold mining.
The Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court found Rangarirai Ngwenya guilty of contravening the Mines and Minerals Act after he was arrested on 7 September 2025 while prospecting for gold without a licence in the Mabula area.
Police detectives acted on a tip-off and found Ngwenya actively extracting gold at a stream using a shovel, long chisel, and plastic bucket. When asked to produce a valid prospecting license or permit, he failed to do so. The tools were confiscated and presented as exhibits in court.
Magistrates ruled that his actions amounted to unauthorized prospecting and handed down a custodial two-year sentence.
Authorities have reiterated that illegal mining is a serious offence that not only breaks the law but also causes environmental damage and endangers communities. Citizens are urged to engage in licensed mining activities as law enforcement agencies continue to clamp down on offenders.
