Taskforce to deal with machete gangs is due

Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, has urged the establishment of a joint security taskforce to curb the growing menace of machete-wielding gangs terrorising mining communities across the country.

Speaking during the ongoing High Court circuit in Gweru, Justice Mutevedzi said the judiciary alone cannot restore order without coordinated action from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), and other state security agencies.

He described the wave of killings, rapes, and violent crimes linked to illegal mining in gold-rich areas as "a national security threat," warning that the situation has reached alarming levels.

"The brutality we are witnessing in the mining areas is a complete breakdown of law and order. They kill, maim, and terrorise communities with impunity. This is no longer just a policing issue — it is gradually becoming a security threat," Justice Mutevedzi said.

He revealed that nearly half of the murder cases currently before the Gweru High Court circuit are connected to disputes among illegal miners and gang-related violence. The most affected districts in the Midlands Province include Shurugwi, Kwekwe, Mberengwa, Mvuma, and Zvishavane.

Justice Mutevedzi emphasised the urgent need to dismantle the criminal syndicates operating under the guise of artisanal mining, saying their activities were destabilising communities and undermining the rule of law.

In 2020, the Zimbabwe Republic Police launched a major crackdown — codenamed Isitsheketsha Kasiphele/Chikorokoza Ngachipere/No to Machete Gangs — in response to a surge in violent crimes such as murder, robbery, and rape. Thousands of suspects were arrested, but new gangs have since emerged, spreading their operations from mining zones to urban centres.

The problem has become so severe that Parliament once launched an inquiry to investigate the origins, operations, and community impact of the machete gangs.

Justice Mutevedzi's call has reignited debate on the need for stronger and more unified law enforcement. Many observers agree that a joint taskforce involving the police, army, and other security agencies is urgently required to restore peace and protect communities from the renewed wave of violence.