Police deployed to quell bloody gold wars

The government is deploying more police officers to mining areas to deal with the violent clashes between illegal miners popularly referred to as makorokoza.

The deployment follows an upsurge in deaths recorded in the clashes between rival gangs over gold mine claims.
The deputy minister of Home Affairs Mike Madiro said the government was aware of the rising cases of murder recorded in gold wars.  

"Indeed, it is true that we are losing a lot of our young boys and girls through these machetes. However, the Government, through the ZRP, is taking measures especially in those areas where this problem of machetes is on the increase," said Madiro.

He said there has been a systematic deployment of police in recent months to quell the violence.

"A few months ago to date, our ZRP is working hard to deploy more police officers in those areas.  The police are also taking those machetes from motorists at the roadblocks," said Madiro.

"In addition to this, there are awareness programmes that are being carried out encouraging people not to take alcohol whilst carrying dangerous weapons like those machetes."

Bloody clashes between rival makorokoza have been recorded in Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland South and Midlands provinces.

Police sources have complained that it is difficult to arrest some gangs as they enjoy political backing from the ruling Zanu-PF elite.