TRACKED AND TRAPPED! Gold panner digs under railway line, faces 10 years behind bars

Bongani Ndlovu Online Reporter

A DARING artisanal miner is staring at a possible 10-year jail sentence after he was busted digging for gold directly under a railway line in Mvuma, a move that not only endangered national infrastructure but also put lives at risk.
The miner, whose identity has not been released, was caught red-handed by the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) loss control team on Sunday while recklessly prospecting for gold beneath active railway tracks.

In a hard-hitting statement, NRZ confirmed the incident and released images showing the gaping hole left under the railway line. The dangerous activity could have easily led to a train derailment, raising alarm about the growing trend of illegal mining near critical infrastructure.

“An artisanal gold miner was arrested by NRZ loss control personnel while digging for gold under the railway tracks in Mvuma,” said the parastatal. “As can be seen from the picture, the miner caused extensive damage to the ground under the tracks.”

Authorities were stunned at the audacity of the illegal operation, which took place within the railway reserve zone, a protected area stretching 45 metres on either side of the tracks.
Mining in this zone is strictly prohibited under the Railways Act, and the offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

“The public is warned that it is an offence to prospect for minerals within the railway reserve. Such reckless behaviour not only violates the law but also poses serious safety risks to rail operations and passengers,” NRZ said.
Rail experts warn that removing soil from beneath the tracks compromises the integrity of the rail bed, increasing the risk of collapse or derailment, especially under the weight of heavy cargo trains.
NRZ has ramped up patrols along key sections of the rail network and urged communities to report suspicious mining activities near railway lines.
With illegal mining spiralling across the country, authorities say this case should serve as a stark warning to those who prioritise profit over public safety.
The arrested miner is expected to appear in court soon, where prosecutors are likely to push for a lengthy sentence to send a clear message: gold fever won’t save you from the long arm of the law.