The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
Seven illegal gold panners, who were arrested in Odzi following an operation to flush out unlawful prospectors along the river, have been slapped with a two-year jail term each after being found guilty by a senior Mutare magistrate.
The suspects – Kasper Makoni (29), Luckson Sithole (23), Wonderful Chivandire (32), Vincent Mafungo (26), John Sithole (40), Pardon Nyazika (22) and Blesward Chiwanza (26) were charged with contravening Section 368 of the Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05), which prohibits the prospecting for minerals without a permit or licence.
Mr Tendai Mahwe found the suspects guilty as charged and sentenced them to an effective two-year jail term each..
The offence carries a minimum two-year mandatory sentence.
District public prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira urged the court to slap the suspects with a jail term in order to send a clear message to would-be offenders.
He said illegal gold panners were causing irreparable land degradation as well as becoming a nuisance in society through their violent behaviour.
Allegations were that the suspects were arrested at Premier Central in Penhalonga by police officers who were on patrol targeting illegal gold panners.
They were caught panning for gold using shovels, picks and some ropes. They were subsequently arrested.
A total of 186 illegal panners were arrested during the operation and the cases are still pending at the courts.
