dyton mupawaenda
Conrad Mupesa–Mash West Bureau
THREE Chinhoyi men arrested on Monday last week by police dog teams while mining illegally opposite Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital have been jailed for two years each after being found guilty of mining without permits or licences.
Chinhoyi magistrate, Ms Rumbidzai Tshumba, convicted Shadreck Dzenge (31) of 1120 Coldstream Chinhoyi, Marshal Munyani (29) of Hunyani Compound Farm in Chinhoyi and Simbarashe Zata (29) of 1930 Rujeko, Chinhoyi, after a full trial.
They were found to have carried out mining without a permit or licence in contravention of Section 368 (1) of Mines and Minerals Act.
The court heard that on 6 November this year, the three were conducting illegal gold mining activities opposite the premises of Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital when the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Canine Unit spotted them.
On reaching the site, police noticed that Dzenge was using a shovel to load ore from a pit, while Munyani who was underground, was digging the pit using an iron bar, while Zata was using a pan to separate gold from sand.
Police recovered the tools from the trio which were also produced in court as exhibits.
Ms Olivia Mukaro prosecuted.
Online Reporter