Gold panner jailed for vandalising railway line

BINDURA - A Bindura-based illegal gold panner has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of vandalising railway infrastructure while searching for gold near the Trojan railway line.

was arrested on September 6 after he was caught digging close to the railway line in Bindura, with police recovering an iron bar and a shovel allegedly used in the illegal mining activities.

Prosecutor Sheilla Kudzai Maribha told the court that alert police officers spotted Mushamba digging near the railway line and immediately moved in to arrest him.

The officers recovered the iron bar and shovel at the scene.

The court heard that Mushamba had been prospecting for gold in close proximity to the railway infrastructure, exposing a critical national asset to potential damage.

Railway infrastructure is regarded as vital to the safe movement of passengers and freight, and any interference with it can pose significant risks to rail operations.

The conviction comes amid growing concern over illegal mining activities that have increasingly spread into areas surrounding public infrastructure and environmentally sensitive zones.

In handing down sentence, the court imposed a five-year custodial term, sending a strong warning against illegal mining activities that threaten public infrastructure.

Authorities have repeatedly cautioned illegal miners against operating near railway lines, power installations, roads and other strategic infrastructure because of the danger such activities pose to both public safety and national assets.