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Illegal miners invade Zanu-PF senator's farm
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Illegal miners have reportedly invaded a farm belonging to Zanu-PF Matabeleland South Senator Maduke Ndlovu, where they began digging for gold without authorization.
Senator Ndlovu revealed the incident during a Senate session this week while questioning Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura on the government's policy regarding illegal mining on private farms.
"What is the government's policy? For example, I am a farmer, and I have a farm, and just from nowhere in the morning, you find someone has already dug in that farm where you are supposed to do your farming," asked Ndlovu. "What is the government's position on such people who just come and dig in people's farms to solicit minerals?"
In response, Deputy Minister Kambamura condemned the activities as criminal, emphasizing that the law provides clear guidelines on mining rights and land ownership.
"According to the current law, when the farm is less than 100 hectares, no one can peg in that farm without the owner's consent," he explained. "When the farm is bigger than 100 hectares, the miner or the prospective miner can notify the owner of the farm of his intention to peg but does not require consent, as long as he is pegging on land that is not cultivated."
Kambamura said the government is working to strengthen legal protections for landowners through amendments contained in the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, which has already been gazetted.
"We have made public consultations and received input from the people, including the Ministry of Agriculture," he said. "Those issues are going to be addressed by the coming bill. It would be premature to pre-empt its contents since consultations are still ongoing."
Illegal mining has become a growing problem across Zimbabwe, with reports of both local and foreign miners — including Chinese investors — invading private properties and ancestral lands in search of gold. The unregulated mining activities have led to widespread environmental destruction, polluted water sources, and increased health and safety risks for nearby communities.
Senator Ndlovu revealed the incident during a Senate session this week while questioning Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura on the government's policy regarding illegal mining on private farms.
"What is the government's policy? For example, I am a farmer, and I have a farm, and just from nowhere in the morning, you find someone has already dug in that farm where you are supposed to do your farming," asked Ndlovu. "What is the government's position on such people who just come and dig in people's farms to solicit minerals?"
In response, Deputy Minister Kambamura condemned the activities as criminal, emphasizing that the law provides clear guidelines on mining rights and land ownership.
"According to the current law, when the farm is less than 100 hectares, no one can peg in that farm without the owner's consent," he explained. "When the farm is bigger than 100 hectares, the miner or the prospective miner can notify the owner of the farm of his intention to peg but does not require consent, as long as he is pegging on land that is not cultivated."
Kambamura said the government is working to strengthen legal protections for landowners through amendments contained in the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, which has already been gazetted.
"We have made public consultations and received input from the people, including the Ministry of Agriculture," he said. "Those issues are going to be addressed by the coming bill. It would be premature to pre-empt its contents since consultations are still ongoing."
Illegal mining has become a growing problem across Zimbabwe, with reports of both local and foreign miners — including Chinese investors — invading private properties and ancestral lands in search of gold. The unregulated mining activities have led to widespread environmental destruction, polluted water sources, and increased health and safety risks for nearby communities.
Source - Southern Eye
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