By Staff Reporter
Zvishavane – A 25-year-old man from Zvishavane has been jailed for two years after being convicted of illegal gold prospecting, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) announced on Tuesday.
The Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court handed down the custodial sentence to Rangarirai Ngwenya, who was arrested on September 7, 2025, following a tip-off about illegal mining activities in the Mabula area.
According to the NPAZ, detectives found Ngwenya actively extracting gold from a stream using a shovel, long chisel, and plastic bucket.
When asked to produce a valid prospecting licence or permit, he failed to do so. The tools were seized and later presented as evidence in court.
Ngwenya was charged under the Mines and Minerals Act, which criminalises unauthorised gold prospecting. He was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison without the option of a fine.
The NPAZ stressed that illegal mining not only constitutes a crime but also poses serious environmental risks and fuels unsafe practices.
“Communities are urged to engage in licensed mining activities as the law will deal firmly with offenders,” the authority said in its statement.
The sentence is part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to clamp down on illegal mining activities across the country, which have been linked to environmental degradation, unsafe working conditions, and loss of government revenue.