News / National
Government intervenes in mining violence
27 Mar 2017 at 01:32hrs | Views
Zvishavane-Government has set up a committee that will look into the increasing number of violent clashes, over gold claims in most mining communities, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Walter Chidhakwa has said.
Delivering his speech at a handover ceremony of the donation of food staffs to Mberengwa and Zvishavane flood victims at Mimosa Mining Company on Friday, Minister Chidhakwa expressed concern over gold battles involving the use of machetes among small scale miners in the province with some resulting in fatalities.
'Two weeks back, cabinet received a report from State security concerning battles involving gold miners, we discussed this issue and a cabinet committee that will look into such violent clashes was set up to look into the matter.
"Visits will be conducted throughout the country where gold panning is happening," Chidhakwa said.
According to the Minister, he will be meeting the political leadership in various provinces together with the Minister of Home Affairs Ignatius Chombo, Minister of Defense Sydney Sekeramayi, and the Minister of State Security, Kembo Mohadi in a bid to stamp out the vice.
Bloody battles over gold claims have been witnessed where there is alluvial gold mining in the country. In November last year, an alleged gang leader of gold panners, Qulisani Moyo from Mat South died after his right foot was cut off in a fight over a mining claim in Filabusi.
Elsewhere, a gold panner from Lower Gweru died after he was allegedly stabbed by four illegal miners over gold, while in July 2016, eight gold panners from Mberengwa sustained serious injuries after they were assaulted with machetes by rival panners over a rich gold mine claim.
Delivering his speech at a handover ceremony of the donation of food staffs to Mberengwa and Zvishavane flood victims at Mimosa Mining Company on Friday, Minister Chidhakwa expressed concern over gold battles involving the use of machetes among small scale miners in the province with some resulting in fatalities.
'Two weeks back, cabinet received a report from State security concerning battles involving gold miners, we discussed this issue and a cabinet committee that will look into such violent clashes was set up to look into the matter.
"Visits will be conducted throughout the country where gold panning is happening," Chidhakwa said.
Bloody battles over gold claims have been witnessed where there is alluvial gold mining in the country. In November last year, an alleged gang leader of gold panners, Qulisani Moyo from Mat South died after his right foot was cut off in a fight over a mining claim in Filabusi.
Elsewhere, a gold panner from Lower Gweru died after he was allegedly stabbed by four illegal miners over gold, while in July 2016, eight gold panners from Mberengwa sustained serious injuries after they were assaulted with machetes by rival panners over a rich gold mine claim.
Source - Masvingo Mirror
