Rueben Ncube
(42), employed as a records officer, pleaded not guilty to the charge but was
convicted by Gwanda magistrate Mr Progress Murandu, who cited overwhelming
evidence.
Ncube was
sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with nine months suspended on condition
he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. The remaining
nine months were further suspended on condition he completes 380 hours of
community service at Senzangakhona Primary School.
Representing
the State, Mr Shepherd Moyo said Ncube issued a prospecting licence to his
mother — an act inconsistent with his official duties. Using the licence, his
mother went on to obtain a mining claim in Filabusi.
Mr Moyo said
the offence came to light after members of the community alerted the Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).
“On 6 May 2021,
while carrying out his duties as records officer at the Ministry of Mines
Gwanda office, the accused unlawfully and knowingly acted contrary to his
responsibilities by signing prospecting licence number 029660 AA, dated 6 May
2021, on behalf of the Mining Commissioner, in the name of Emelda Moyo — his
mother.
“On 7 February
2025, the same prospecting licence was used to issue a certificate of
registration for claim number 51223, registered under the name Emelda Moyo. The
offence was exposed when the Mosenthals community of Insiza District filed a
report with Zacc, alleging that a miner named Emelda Moyo had invaded their
site claiming to hold a valid mining certificate,” said Mr Moyo.
He added that
investigations revealed the community had been applying for a registration
certificate for the same claim since 2022, but their applications were
deliberately stalled by Ncube, who had access to all relevant files.
In 2024, the
Mosenthals community discovered gold deposits at the site and began guarding
the area while awaiting a certificate from the Ministry. They were shocked when
served with an eviction notice stemming from a default court judgement in which
Ncube had a vested interest.
Further
investigations confirmed that Emelda Moyo is indeed the mother of Ncube.
“The accused,
fully aware of his duties, knowingly and intentionally acted contrary to them
by processing a prospecting licence in his mother’s name, thereby showing
favour to her at the expense of the Mosenthals community, who had long been
applying for a certificate for the same area,” Mr Moyo said.
In his defence,
Ncube, represented by Mr Jabulani Ndubiwa of Mashayamombe and Partners, argued
that issuing the licence was part of his assigned duties.
He stated that,
in practice, prospecting licences are not signed by the provincial mining
director, deputy director, or senior cadastre officers, but often by
administrative staff.
Mr Ndubiwa said
Ncube’s mother had applied for the licence and met all legal requirements. He
argued that had she been served by any other official on that day, she would
still have received the licence.
“On 6 May 2021,
my client was assigned by his superiors to work in the front office, which
included issuing and processing over-the-counter services such as prospecting
licences. He denies showing any favour to Emelda Moyo, as she fulfilled all
legal requirements.
“The licence
merely conferred the right to search for minerals in a designated area — in
this case, Matabeleland South. At that point, there was no guarantee she would
discover any precious minerals before the licence expired,” he said. Sunday
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