MaShurugwi clean up: 907 arrested

  • Arrested charged with criminal trespass, illegal possession of gold ore and possession of harmful drugs
  • 18 vehicles impounded while various mining equipment, an assortment of drugs and explosives recovered.

POLICE have arrested at least 907 people at Shamva, Jumbo Mine and Mazowe River in an ongoing operation against illegal mining activities.

In a police update Wednesday afternoon, law enforcement agents said “the accused persons are being charged for criminal trespass, illegal possession of gold/gold ore, and possession of harmful liquids/drugs and other offences.”

Police said at least 18 vehicles were impounded while various mining equipment, an assortment of drugs and explosives were recovered.

“The net is closing in on all those engaging in illegal mining across the country,” police said.

This comes as police on Tuesday night sealed off Jumbo gold mine in Mazowe in a bid to rein in marauding machete-wielding gangs in that area.

The closure of Jumbo mine is likely to result in running battles between vendors, artisinal miners and law enforcement agents.

“We are going to fight for our territory. Police will have to walk over dead bodies in order to get us out of this place,” said a vendor who did not want his name mentioned for fear of victimisation.

When the Zim Morning Post news crew arrived at the mine Tuesday morning vendors were arriving in numbers from Harare, Bindura, Glendale and surrounding farms.

“We have been operating here since the makorokozas began mining in 2019 only to be told to go away. We are ready for war with the authorities,” another vendor said.

Police, Zanu PF local leadership clash imminent

Besides waging a war with vendors, police is likely to engage in another vicious war with the local Zanu PF leadership in the province who had turned Jumbo mine into a cash cow.

As reported by this publication, the leaders had all but abandoned their party duties and camped at Jumbo mine with some sponsoring mining activities in the area.

There are allegations that some of the party leadership who have been living lavishly from proceeds of Jumbo Mine are likely to fight back the move by police to seal off their cash-cow.

Meanwhile, the ZRP has been accused of dabbling in corruption, Zim Morning Post has learnt.

The Support Unit, a division of ZRP, is said to be demanding ZWL100 ‘entrance fee’ from illegal artisanal miners.

“Support Unit officers are setting up roadblocks just before Jumbo Mine, demanding ZWL100 per person entering into the mine. They will also be asked to pay another ZWL100 when they are leaving,” said a source.