THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has sealed-off Manzou Farm and Mazowe mining area in a bid to get rid of illegal miners who have invaded the area in search of gold, Zim Morning Post can report.
The operation started last week and police are in the process of clearing out the illegal miners operating at Manzou Farm which is owned by the former First Lady, Grace Mugabe.
Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi could not readily confirm the intrinsic details regarding the operation.
“We will issue a statement today after lunch,” Nyathi told Zim Morning Post.
Zim Morning Post understands that hundreds of police officers have since been deployed to Glendale, a sprawling mining settlement in Mashonaland Central.
Upon visiting the area, Zim Morning Post noticed that heavily armed police officers were patrolling the Mazowe area, where illegal miners had camped for easy access to the open cast mines.
The ongoing blitz has also affected the Chinese-owned mine that has been operating along the Mazowe River.
The operation comes after Jumbo Mine was also cordoned off last year after machete gangs had terrorised residents, mercilessly tearing them apart.
During the period, more than 1 200 illegal miners were arrested and some are currently serving prison sentences.
