Two Sentenced to 2-Years for Illegal Gold Prospecting in Lupane

The Gwanda Magistrates’ Court has sentenced Evelyn Nkomo, 34, and Rasper Nkomo, 26, to two years in prison for illegal gold prospecting along the Njeni River in Lupane.

They were arrested on June 4, 2025, during a routine police patrol while using makeshift mining equipment without a valid prospecting license. The pair failed to produce any legal authorization when questioned.

The court imposed the maximum sentence, underlining the seriousness of illegal mining and its impact on the nation’s resources.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) reminded the public that prospecting without a license carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence and urged compliance with mining laws to protect the country’s mineral wealth.