A 45-year-old man from Ruwa, Tafadzwa Matsika, has been sentenced to five years in prison for illegally possessing 0.096 grams of gold. Matsika was arrested at the Greencroft mine compound on August 20, 2025, after mine officials received a tip-off about illegal gold panning on a cultural day known as Chisi.
Security tracked Matsika’s movements from a mining shaft to a nearby compound, where they found the small amount of gold. He couldn’t produce a valid mining license or permit, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) emphasized that the sentence reflects the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards illegal gold dealings, highlighting the threat even small quantities pose to national economic security and the fueling of illicit mining activities .
This conviction serves as a warning to those involved in illicit mining and possession, as authorities continue their crackdown on crime and corruption.
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