adminAmanda Ncube Sunday News Reporter
FIVE illegal gold panners have been arrested after being found illegally panning 25 metres underground at Vision Mine in Matopo, Matabeleland South. Marvelous Mbiva (24), Ntokozo Sibanda (24), Innocent Gomborejaya (22), Kwazinkosi Mpofu (18) and Delforce Khoza (21) appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrate Mrs Charity Maphosa last week facing charges of intrusion without permission to search for minerals and they were remanded out of custody to 4 August for sentencing after they pleaded guilty.
According to the prosecutor, Mr Taurai Hondoyemoto on 20 July 2016 detective constable Andrew Hoko from Minerals Unit Bulawayo received a tip off that there were illegal gold panners at Vision Mine, Matopo.
The prosecutor told the court that the detective working on a tip-off teamed up with his colleagues and proceeded to the said mine. “When Constable Hoko and his colleagues arrived at the mine they found the accused persons in the shafts which are approximately 25 metres deep,” he said.
Mr Hondoyemoto said the accused persons were asked to come out of the shafts with their tools leading to their arrest. The court heard that tools such as hammers and chisels were recovered and sent to court as evidence.
The accused persons pleaded guilty to the allegations. The trial continues.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter