MEMBERS of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are accused of engaging in corrupt activities at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe , Zim Morning Post has learnt.
The Support Unit, a division of ZRP, is allegedly demanding ZWL100 as an ‘entrance fee’ to gain access into the mine for artisanal miners.
“The Support Unit officers are setting up roadblocks just before the mines demanding ZWL100 per person when the boys are entering the mines and ZWL100 when they are leaving, failure to pay they will not enter,” said a source.
The gold rich mine has become chaotic as it attracted artisanal miners from across the country causing violence across ethnic lines.
The most notorious are the ‘MaShurugwi’ who hail from Midlands province and are ccused of spilling blood and are always armed with machetes.
The ‘ Mashurugwi’ have become the underground top dogs.
“MaShurugwi boys are staying underground, bullying the whole lot of us, taking our gold and if you resist in any way you end up dead in a mine shaft and if you are lucky you colleagues might carry your dead body out of the mines,” one of the Jumbo miners said.
This nightmare will not end as long as the Support Unit officers continue to indulge in these unscrupulous schemes.
A few days ago a group of miners fell victims of such attacks and fortunate enough to come out of the mines alive and were be able to identify their attackers.
Mines Ministry has not bothered to intervene despite calls from the surrounding community.
