Machete gangs ‘killing’ mining sector

THE Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has expressed great concern over the increase in machete gangs’ activities around mining areas which continue to disturb the growth of the mining sector.

For the past months, machete gangs have roamed around mining areas engaging in violent attacks on miners, stealing gold and money. ZMF secretary-general Mr Philemon Mokuele said mining was no longer safe as miners now fear for their lives.

“The mines are no longer safe especially for women because they are easy targets as they cannot fight back. This continuous harassment of miners will affect production and in some cases, workers are now afraid of working night shifts since mining is a 24-hour business,” said Dr Mokuele.

He said the organisation has engaged a number of stockholders as ZMF including the police and policy makers.

Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Cde Polite Kambamura said the ministry was aware of the disturbances and they are doing everything they can to ensure safety is restored in the mining sector.

“We are working hand in glove with the police and other State security organs to see that there is normalcy in the sector. Miners should also keep confidential information of their production proceeds to themselves and avoid showing off their proceeds in public, be it beer drinking points or shopping points as this sends signals to these machete gangs,” said Cde Kambamura.

He added that miners should also regularise their operations by registering with the ministry.

Bulawayo’s water woes are set to worsen if the city’s dams do not receive significant inflows within the next three weeks as council has indicated that it may be forced to decommission Lower Ncema Dam. The picture taken last week shows residents queuing for the precious liquid in Makokoba suburb in Bulawayo.