Five men have been sentenced to two years in prison each after being convicted of illegal gold prospecting in Zvishavane, as authorities continue cracking down on unlawful mining activities across the country, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court found the group—Godknows Siwalimu (24), Naphitali Mumpande (23), Mzingayi Moyo (23), Advantage Ngombe (26), and Mpendulo Moyo (20)—guilty of illegally prospecting for gold in a bushy area near Maglas Township, Zvishavane, without the necessary licenses or permits.
Their illicit activities were discovered on March 3, 2025, when detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora, and Fauna Unit arrested them. The men were caught using tools, including a shovel, pick, and rubber bucket, to extract gold ore from a 1.5-meter-deep shaft they had dug.
The five individuals were promptly taken to court, where they were convicted and handed mandatory two-year prison sentences for their unlawful actions.
Zimbabwe has been battling rising cases of illegal gold mining, which has caused environmental degradation, loss of government revenue, and threats to law and order. Authorities have responded by strengthening law enforcement measures against illegal miners, especially in key gold-producing regions like Zvishavane.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe continues to issue warnings to those engaged in illegal mining, reinforcing the message that “Crime Does Not Pay.”
As Zimbabwe seeks to regulate its mining industry more effectively, the conviction and sentencing of these individuals serve as a reminder that illegal prospecting will not be tolerated and that severe penalties await those who flout the law.
