Francis Mambara, a 42‑year‑old gold panner from Mhizha Village in Bindura, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to digging a tunnel for gold within 45 metres of the Bindura‑Trojan railway line.
The Bindura Magistrates Court found Mambara had been excavating a tunnel that posed a potential danger to railway operations. He was convicted after admitting the offence and was handed a custodial sentence of five years.
Mambara’s tunnel was located near the Bindura‑Trojan railway line, a route that carries freight and passenger trains. The court noted that the proximity of the excavation to the railway tracks could have endangered the safety of the rail network.
He is a resident of Mhizha Village, which falls under the jurisdiction of Chief Masembura in Bindura. The case highlights the risks associated with unregulated gold mining activities near critical infrastructure.
Article and image source: dailynews.co.zw