A Ministry of Mines and Mining Development official in Matabeleland South Province has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for criminal abuse of office after unlawfully issuing a mining prospecting licence to his mother.
Rueben Ncube (42), a records officer, appeared before Gwanda Magistrate Progress Murandu, where he was convicted despite pleading not guilty. The magistrate cited overwhelming evidence in handing down the sentence.
Ncube was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with nine months suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. The remaining nine months were further suspended on condition that he completes 380 hours of community service at Senzangakhona Primary School.
The State, represented by Mr Shepherd Moyo, told court that Ncube acted outside the scope of his duties when he issued a prospecting licence to his mother, Emelda Moyo — an act that allowed her to obtain a mining claim in Filabusi.
Mr Moyo said the offence came to light after community members in Mosenthals, Insiza District, reported the matter to 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,” Mr Moyo told the court.
He added that on 7 February 2025, the same licence was used to issue a certificate of registration for claim number 51223 under Emelda Moyo’s name. This sparked tensions after the Mosenthals community alleged that she had unlawfully taken over their mining site.
Mines Official Sentenced to 18 Months for Issuing Licence to Mother
The community, the prosecutor said, had been applying for a registration certificate for the same claim since 2022, but their applications were stalled, allegedly due to Ncube’s interference.
“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 they were served with an eviction notice stemming from a default court judgement in which the accused had a vested interest,” Mr Moyo explained.
Further investigations confirmed that Emelda Moyo is Ncube’s mother. “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,” Mr Moyo said.
The court heard that Ncube’s actions violated the Mining Act and undermined trust in public office, raising serious concerns about corruption within the Ministry.
In his defence, Ncube, represented by Mr Jabulani Ndubiwa of Mashayamombe and Partners, argued that issuing the licence was part of his normal duties as assigned.
Mr Ndubiwa contended that in practice, prospecting licences are often signed by administrative staff, not necessarily by the provincial mining director or senior officers. He added that his client’s mother had met all the legal requirements for the licence.
“My client was assigned to work in the front office, which included issuing and processing over-the-counter services such as prospecting licences,” Mr Ndubiwa told the court. “He denies showing any favour to Emelda Moyo. She fulfilled all legal requirements for the licence. If served by another official on that day, she would still have been granted the licence.”
He further explained that the licence merely conferred the right to search for minerals in a designated area and did not guarantee the discovery of any precious minerals before its expiry.
Magistrate Murandu found that, regardless of procedural assignments, Ncube had a conflict of interest by processing a licence for a close family member without proper oversight. The magistrate said such conduct amounted to an abuse of office and set a dangerous precedent if left unchecked.
“This court cannot condone acts of nepotism that undermine public confidence in institutions tasked with regulating mineral resources,” the magistrate said. “Public office must be exercised with impartiality and integrity.”
The judgement was welcomed by members of the Mosenthals community, who viewed it as a victory for fairness and the rule of law. “We are grateful that the court has upheld our concerns. This sends a strong message that no one is above the law,” said a community spokesperson.
Meanwhile, civil society groups have called for tighter oversight and transparency in the issuance of mining licences, urging the Ministry of Mines to strengthen controls and prevent similar abuses in future.
The Ncube case stands as a stern warning to public officials that corruption and nepotism will not be tolerated. It also highlights the role of community vigilance and institutions such as ZACC in holding those in authority accountable.
As Ncube begins his sentence, the matter is likely to have lasting implications for how mining licences are processed in Zimbabwe, reinforcing the importance of ethical conduct in public service.
Source- Herald
