Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Two gold panners from Gwanda in Matabeleland South have been jailed for an effective two years for illegally prospecting for gold along Njeni River in Lupane, Matabeleland North.
Evelyn Nkomo (34) and Rasper Nkomo (26) were convicted and sent to prison by a Gwanda magistrate on Monday.
In a statement on Tuesday, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said the pair was found prospecting for gold on June 4 at around 3.30pm by detectives on routine patrol.
“They were armed with shovels, an iron bar, a plastic bucket, a dish and a makeshift James table. Upon request for a prospecting license , the offenders failed to present it or any legal authorisation permitting them to conduct mining activities in the area,” said the NPAZ.
“The NPAZ would like to remind members of the public that prospecting without a license carries a mandatory penalty of 2 (two) years imprisonment”.
Bongani Ndlovu