News / National
Gold panners invade cemetery
21 Aug 2011 at 06:57hrs | Views
SCORES of illegal gold panners have invaded a cemetery in the Mashava area of Masvingo, digging up graves in search of the precious mineral.
The panners descended on Old Gaths Mine Cemetery a fortnight ago following reports that a gold belt ran under it.
The cemetery, which was closed several years back after it ran out of space, houses the graves of over a thousand former mine workers and their relatives who died at the mine.
When reporters visited the graveyard last week, scores of panners could be seen resting on mounds of soil after digging up several graves.
Among them were women, the elderly and young men, some of whom are suspected to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs most of the time.
Those interviewed said indications were an alluvial gold belt lay across the cemetery.
The panners descended on Old Gaths Mine Cemetery a fortnight ago following reports that a gold belt ran under it.
The cemetery, which was closed several years back after it ran out of space, houses the graves of over a thousand former mine workers and their relatives who died at the mine.
Among them were women, the elderly and young men, some of whom are suspected to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs most of the time.
Those interviewed said indications were an alluvial gold belt lay across the cemetery.
Source - Zimpapers
