Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
A 45-YEAR-OLD man from Ruwa has been slapped with an effective five-year jail term for the illegal possession of gold.
Tafadzwa Matsika was arrested on August 20 this year at the Greencroft mine compound following a tip-off.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), mine officials received information that someone was illegally panning for gold during ‘Chisi’, a traditional day of rest.
Acting on the tip, the officials tracked the suspect’s footprints from an active mining shaft directly to a nearby compound where they confronted him.
Upon confrontation, Matsika produced a sachet of toasted gold weighing 0,096 grammes from his pocket.
However, he failed to produce a valid mining licence or permit authorising him to possess the precious mineral, leading to his immediate arrest.
The NPA, in a news bulletin released on Monday, confirmed the conviction and sentencing.
“The conviction reinforces the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards illegal gold dealings,” the NPA stated.
“Even the smallest quantities of gold in unlawful hands pose a threat to national economic security and fuel illicit mining activities.”
The case, prosecuted under the Gold Trade Act, serves as a stern warning to those involved in unauthorised mining and possession of minerals.
The sentence aligns with the Government’s ongoing efforts to combat crime and corruption, safeguarding the country’s natural resources for the benefit of the nation.
