RUWA – A 45-year-old man from Ruwa is set to spend the next five years behind bars after being convicted of illegally possessing gold. Tafadzwa Matsika received the harsh sentence after being apprehended at the Greencroft mine compound on August 20th, following a tip-off that he was illegally panning for gold on ‘Chisi’, a day traditionally observed as a day of rest from mining activities.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed the conviction and sentencing in a news bulletin released earlier this week. “The conviction reinforces the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards illegal gold dealings,” the NPA stated emphatically. “Even the smallest quantities of gold in unlawful hands pose a threat to national economic security and fuel illicit mining activities.”
The details of Matsika’s arrest, as revealed by the NPA, paint a picture of a man caught red-handed. Mine officials, having received information about illegal panning, tracked the suspect’s footprints directly from an active mining shaft to a nearby compound. Upon confronting Matsika, he produced a sachet containing just 0.096 grammes of toasted gold from his pocket. Crucially, Matsika was unable to provide any documentation – a valid mining licence or permit – authorising him to possess the precious mineral. This failure led to his immediate arrest.
The case was prosecuted under the stringent Gold Trade Act, a piece of legislation designed to curb the rampant illegal mining activities that plague many parts of Zimbabwe. The sentence handed down to Matsika serves as a stark warning to others who may be tempted to engage in unauthorised mining and possession of minerals.
This case underscores the Government’s commitment to combating crime and corruption, particularly in the mining sector. The authorities are keen to safeguard the country’s natural resources, ensuring that they benefit the entire nation, not just a few individuals operating outside the law.
In a separate but related development, two individuals from Sadza District, in Mashonaland East, have also been brought to book for dealing in dangerous drugs. Paston Mjiba (39), a barber by trade, and Letwin Alice Mungoni (34), who works at Sadza District Hospital, were recently convicted by Wedza Resident Magistrate Tariro Chamisa for their involvement in the illicit drug trade.
The court heard that Mjiba was using his barber shop as a front for selling drugs, specifically methylenedioxyphenyl methamphine, commonly known as ‘guka-mutoriro’. Mungoni, on the other hand, was operating her drug dealing business from within the Sadza District Hospital staff quarters, a particularly brazen act that has shocked many in the area.
Both Mjiba and Mungoni pleaded guilty to the charges against them. Mjiba received a sentence of 12 months imprisonment, of which three months were suspended for five years, leaving him with an effective nine-month jail term. Mungoni was also sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, but in her case, six months were suspended for five years, resulting in a six-month effective sentence.
Public prosecutor Mr Vimbainashe John Mukondo detailed the circumstances leading to the arrest of Mjiba and Mungoni. On the 15th of November, at approximately 10:30 am, the Sadza ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police) received a crucial tip-off from a confidential informer, alerting them to the drug dealing activities of the two individuals.
Acting swiftly on this information, police officers immediately attended the scenes in question. Their investigation led to the recovery of a significant quantity of evidence, including three sachets of ‘guka/mutoriro’, 200 small empty plastic bags used for packaging the drug, a small digital pocket scale used for weighing ‘guka/mutoriro’, 15 Sun brand cigarette lighters, and two energy saver bulb apparatus used for consuming the drug. All of these items were discovered hidden in one of the accused person’s houses.
Following the discovery of this evidence, Mjiba and Mungoni were promptly arrested for dealing in dangerous drugs and were escorted to ZRP Sadza police station for further processing.
These recent cases highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Zimbabwe in combating both illegal mining and drug trafficking. The authorities are clearly taking a firm stance against these activities, as evidenced by the relatively harsh sentences handed down to those convicted. The message is clear: those who engage in illegal activities that undermine the country’s economy or endanger the well-being of its citizens will face the full force of the law.
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