The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
TWO gold panners have each been sentenced to two years imprisonment for prospecting without a licence.
Moven Tinos (18) of Chivhi and Resuscitate Ndlovu (18) of Mwenezi pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Nomagugu Ncube last week but were convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
Prosecuting, Mr Takudzwa Mafudze said Tinos and Ndlovu were arrested on 17 July while prospecting for gold at Willmore Trench Mine in Gwanda.
“On 17 July Tinos and Ndlovu were seen digging gold ore using an iron bar by Mr Moses Ncube who is a miner at Willmore Trench Mine. Upon realising that they had been seen the two men fled from the scene. Mr Ncube alerted his colleagues and they pursued Tinos and Ncube as they didn’t have a right to mine in the area. Mr Ncube and his colleagues caught up with the two men and escorted them to the police station resulting in their arrest. Two iron bars and bucket which the two men were using were recovered,” he said.
In their defence Tinos said he was passing by Willmore Trench Mine when he was attacked by a group of miners for no apparent reason.
“I work at Vhovha Mine and on the day in question I was coming from work and passed through Willmore Trench Mine. I heard people shouting and moved closer to find out what was happening. A group of men who were standing there then called me and tried to assault me. I tried to run away but they caught up with me and they assaulted me and then took me to the police station. I don’t know why they attacked me as I was just passing by and then next I heard was that I was under arrest for prospecting without a licence,” he said.
Ndlovu said he was also passing through Willmore Trench Mine when he was attacked by a group of men who were standing there and they later accused him of prospecting without a licence.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old mine worker has been arrested for offering a police officer a $132 bribe in a bid to evade arrest.
Nkosiyapha Sibanda who works at Bima Mine in Gwanda was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda provincial magistrate, Mr Maphios Moyo facing bribery charges.
He was remanded in custody to 12 September.
Prosecuting, Ms Tererai Mahohoma said Sibanda tried to offer a bribe to a cop in order to evade being arrested for public violence.
“On 28 August around 10 am, detectives who were on crime surveillance in Gwanda CBD received a tip off that Sibanda who was wanted in connection with a case of public violence was at Bima Mine.
“The police then proceeded to the mine where they arrested Sibanda and escorted him to the Gwanda Police Station. Along the way Sibanda offered Lovemore Joe from the Criminal Investigation department $132 cash as a bribe to facilitate his release. This was in the presence of other detectives,” she said.
@DubeMatutu
