POLICE raids at panning sites have seen the arrest of 6 229 illegal artisanal miners and 1 922 offenders, since March 4, 2019 to date.
Home Affairs deputy minister Mike Madiro said the culprits were either made to pay funds or referred to court for possessing dangerous weapons.
He added that illegal artisanal miners are not only committing violent crimes such as murder, robbery, rape and assault but are also causing serious environmental degradation.
“There are numerous outgoing measures in all the provinces aimed at containing violent crimes perpetrated by artisanal miners such as Chikorokoza Ngachipere,” Madiro told legislators on Wednesday.
“These include raids at panning sites conducted from time to time to arrest illegal artisanal miners and vendors. In this regard, it is interesting to note that from March 4, 2019 to date, 6 229 illegal artisanal miners and 1 922 offenders were arrested and either made to pay funds or referred to court for possessing dangerous weapons,” he said.
Madiro added that road blocks had been set up to search for machetes, knives, weapons, iron bars and other dangerous weapons while prohibition orders for carrying dangerous weapons had been issued.
“In addition, ‘stop and searches,’ are being conducted in areas infested with illegal artisanal miners and those found with dangerous weapons,” he said.
There are also campaigns being conducted with a view to dissuade members of the public to desist from committing all forms of violence, respect the sanctity of human life and resolve any differences amicably.
“ZRP is engaging the Judiciary by its commanders at national level, provincial and district levels to impose stiffer penalties on perpetrators of violent crimes and mines and minerals offenders,” Madiro continued.
He, however, admitted that there was a desperate shortage of vehicles at police stations which would allow law enforcement agents to quickly react to emergencies.
“The non-availability of vehicular resources at the stations, this is what the Government is attending to,” he said, adding:
“There are many other stations which do not have such resources but action is being taken to make sure that we avail such vehicular resource to stations.”
