Gold panners 'mock' Bulawayo officials at Upper Ncema Dam

City of Bulawayo officials and councillors had a startling encounter with illegal gold panners at Upper Ncema Dam, where the miners openly admitted to operating freely in the protected catchment area, citing weak security. The incident occurred during an inspection of the city's supply dams, amid growing concern that reservoirs were failing to fill despite recent heavy rains.

A group of five illegal panners, armed with their tools, confronted the municipal officials and media team. While three fled, two remained, appearing unfazed and even granting interviews to journalists, calmly interacting with councillors in a bold display of defiance. Councillor Khalazani Ndlovu, chairperson of the Future and Water Committee, heard firsthand that security in the area is virtually nonexistent. "To be honest, there is no security here; we operate freely," one illegal miner said. "Even if you deploy more security and remove us, that would not scare us, and we will continue operating," he added with a smile.

The encounter exposed the scale of unregulated activities in protected water catchment zones, raising serious concerns over the security of critical water infrastructure. Upper Ncema Dam is one of Bulawayo's key supply dams, and any disruption to water flows directly threatens the city's already strained water situation. Authorities say that unregulated mining along riverbanks is blocking natural water flow into the dams, undermining the benefits of increased rainfall.

Illegal gold panning, which often involves digging, siltation, and diversion of streams, not only reduces reservoir inflows but also causes long-term environmental damage. Residents had expected improved dam levels following the recent rains, but authorities believe rampant land degradation and riverbed disturbances are worsening the situation.

Earlier this week, City Mayor Councillor David Coltart sounded an alarm over widespread illegal gold mining in the Umzingwane river catchment area, warning of the devastating consequences for the city's water supply. The Upper Ncema incident underscores the urgent need for tighter security, enforcement of environmental laws, and coordinated action among stakeholders to protect Bulawayo's water sources as the city continues to battle recurring shortages.