Gokwe gold panners get jail time

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GOKWE — Two men, who were found prospecting for gold without a licence or permit, were on Tuesday slapped with a two-year jail term each

GOKWE — Two men, who were found prospecting for gold without a licence or permit, were on Tuesday slapped with a two-year jail term each.

REPORT BY STAFF REPORTER

Patrick Sitate (33) and Justine Dube (55) both of Gokwe South, pleaded guilty to a charge of prospecting for gold without a licence when they appeared before Gokwe resident magistrate Shepherd Mjanja.

The magistrate convicted and sentenced them to an effective two-year jail term each.

Prosecutor Mandla Ndlovu told the court that on August 26 at 3pm, detectives were on patrol at Magora village when they were tipped that the two were prospecting for gold without licences. The detectives raided the place and found the two goldpanning.

The two failed to produce prospecting licences, when asked to, leading to their arrest.