GUTU - Heavily armed police have been deployed to seal off the Zoma area, 35 kilometers north of the expansive growth point, where gold deposits were discovered a fortnight ago, to bar illegal miners from prospecting, provincial spokesperson, Inspector Phibion Nyambo told RadioVOP Monday. (Pictured: Illegal Miner busy panning for Gold)Inspector Nyambo said ‘he had received orders from above’ to deploy heavily armed police Monday to scare away the illegal miners, most of whom participated in mining diamonds in Marange district in Manicaland last year, who had flooded the area.
“I was told that gold panners had become a menace in the area, with school children deserting classes, and teachers and other civil servants failing to turn up for work as they tried their luck.
“This morning, I got orders from above to deploy officers into the area, and as I am speaking right now, police in Gutu have sealed off the area, while awaiting reinforcements from nearby stations. We have also mounted numerous roadblocks along the way to curb the illegal trafficking of the mineral,” said Insp Nyambo.
While Inspector Nyambo refused to divulge names of his superiors who had given the instructions, indications are that the story of the gold rush carried in today’s state controlled Herald newspaper, could have led to the move.
Mines and Mining Development Minister, Obert Mpofu, could not be reached for a comment at the time of publishing.
But an Environmental Management Agency (EMA) officer in Gutu said riot police, armed to the teeth, descended on the illegal miners Monday mid-morning. But the fortune seekers were reportedly vowing not to give up easily, and are playing cat-and mouse with the state security agents.
“They have not gone anywhere far; they are just hiding in the hills, waiting for darkness to come. They are playing hide and seek with the police. I foresee reinforcements being called in to control the crowds,” said the EMA officer, who declined to be named.
He decried the environmental challenge that they had posed, indicating growing fears that Cholera might resurface.
Post published in: Economy