News / National
Teen Gold-panners invade Mberengwa, Zvishavane
01 Oct 2015 at 12:49hrs | Views
Clad in a black jean and torn FC Platinum jazz, 15 years old Reginald Moyo lays helpless on the ground. It is winter time, but today he has to sleep without a blanket and only nature will warm him.
"I want to go to school like every boy of my age, but l also need money to cater for my mother and other siblings back home. Muchingwe River is my only source of income," said Moyo.
Reginald Moyo is among hundreds of teenage boys who are fleeing their home to Muchingwe River in Mberengwa to eke a living through illegal gold panning. Throughout Midlands south's communal lands, boys as young as twelve are running away from their home as drought and levels of poverty have reached unbearable levels.
The most affected areas are Mazvihwa, Mapanzure, Chivi and the entire Mberengwa. Although people of all age groups are engaging in these mining activities to make ends meet, it is the calamity faced by these young boys which is heart-rending.
"I came this side with my brother. We survived on wild fruits until we sold our gold after five days," said Moyo.
Another teen, Victor Shiri from Mataga in Mberengwa narrated that sometimes he is bullied by old guys who at times confiscate their tools and gold.
"I was beaten several times ne Makorokoza (Illegal Gold Panners). I was also verbally abused and my tools were also confiscated," said Shiri.
Tendai Zhuwao, who has been a gold-panner for the past ten years, also said the situation at Muchingwe River is worrisome because gold panners are using bush toilets and it was just a matter of time for cholera out-breaks.
"We relieve ourselves in the same pits we fetch our water," added Zhuwao.
Commenting on this development, MDC-T national executive Dennis Mudzingwa said the fact that youths in Zvishavane are resorting to illegal gold panning is non-accidental, but an ongoing ZANU-PF project aimed at marginalizing people of Zvishavane.
"It is a worrying situation that Zvishavane is mineral endowed but economically marginalised. What makes the situation even more shocking is that fact Zanu-PF hardliners such as VP Mnangangwa and Cephas Msipa have their roots in Zvishavane," added Mudzingwa.
"I want to go to school like every boy of my age, but l also need money to cater for my mother and other siblings back home. Muchingwe River is my only source of income," said Moyo.
Reginald Moyo is among hundreds of teenage boys who are fleeing their home to Muchingwe River in Mberengwa to eke a living through illegal gold panning. Throughout Midlands south's communal lands, boys as young as twelve are running away from their home as drought and levels of poverty have reached unbearable levels.
The most affected areas are Mazvihwa, Mapanzure, Chivi and the entire Mberengwa. Although people of all age groups are engaging in these mining activities to make ends meet, it is the calamity faced by these young boys which is heart-rending.
"I came this side with my brother. We survived on wild fruits until we sold our gold after five days," said Moyo.
"I was beaten several times ne Makorokoza (Illegal Gold Panners). I was also verbally abused and my tools were also confiscated," said Shiri.
Tendai Zhuwao, who has been a gold-panner for the past ten years, also said the situation at Muchingwe River is worrisome because gold panners are using bush toilets and it was just a matter of time for cholera out-breaks.
"We relieve ourselves in the same pits we fetch our water," added Zhuwao.
Commenting on this development, MDC-T national executive Dennis Mudzingwa said the fact that youths in Zvishavane are resorting to illegal gold panning is non-accidental, but an ongoing ZANU-PF project aimed at marginalizing people of Zvishavane.
"It is a worrying situation that Zvishavane is mineral endowed but economically marginalised. What makes the situation even more shocking is that fact Zanu-PF hardliners such as VP Mnangangwa and Cephas Msipa have their roots in Zvishavane," added Mudzingwa.
Source - Musavengana Hove
