VIOLENCE has since Monday engulfed the small mining town of Bindura, with residence allegedly influencing each other to fight back the illegal artisanal Mazowe gold miners, commonly referred to as MaShurugwi, who had gone on rampage attacking residents.
The MaShurugwi, mostly from Shurugwi in the Midlands province, have been accused of terrorising people in Mazowe ever since they turned up this year in the area in search of gold.
They (MaShurugwi) are accused of killing other illegal artisanal gold miners operating in the Jumbo mines, including ordinary people in Mazowe, Glendale and Bindura.
Bindura townsfolk have taken it upon themselves to prevent more deaths in the hands of the MaShurugwi by identifying the perpetrators, effecting citizens’ arrests and handing them over to the police, including giving them a beating in case they failed to comply.
However, Bindura residents also seem to be fearing for their lives after messages of water contamination started circulating in social media circles, particularly WhatsApp on platforms.
“I am a Bindura resident and have received news that tap water has been poisoned with a chemical named s cyanide by the MaShurugwi. Do not drink tap water and, please, stay safe,” read one of the messages on social media.