Fleeing illegal miner falls
SHOOTOUT:
Because it is easy to mine Green Chert rock, zama zamas often risk their lives by entering the Malolotja Nature Reserve to steal the rocks.
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MBABANE – Running in the wrong direction nearly cost an illegal miner his life, when he fell off a cliff while at Malolotja Nature Reserve.
Illegal miners are sometimes referred to as zama zama. In the Kingdom of Eswatini, illegal mining is fast becoming a booming business due to the availability of minerals, sometimes found in old mine shafts.
However, Green Chert rocks, which are a type of quartz, are only found around Malolotja in the kingdom and because it is easy to mine, zama zamas often risk their lives by entering the nature reserve to steal the rocks.
*Jomo (24), who is one of the illegal miners. allegedly tried to flee with about seven other illegal miners, but fell and injured himself. It is alleged that the incident happened on February 24, 2023.
According to a supervisor at Top 2 Security, the officers noticed some light that appeared like a torch at a distance. They then realised that this meant that there were some people at one of the mountains, illegally mining the
Green Chert rock.
IncIdent
The incident is said to have happened at around 11pm and because it was dark at the time, the security guards could not chase the men.
The supervisor alleged that they were not aware that while the illegal miners were fleeing upon hearing gunshots, Jomo is said to have fallen.
After the warning shots were fired, it is alleged that there was an exchange of gunfire as the men fled.
One of the illegal miners is said to have been carrying a pistol with 22 rounds of ammunition.
As the shooting intensified, it is alleged that one of the men was shot, but managed to flee. Only the injured Jomo was discovered by the security guards.
The Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, could not immediately confirm the matter adding that there was no record of it at the Pigg’s Peak Police Station.
A supervisor at Top 2 Security confirmed on record that the injured man was still being treated in the hospital and that an incident report was also reported to the police.
He said the matter would formally be reported to the police.
Meanwhile, though Green Chert rock is within the Malolotja Nature Reserve, a private company acquired a prospecting mineral licence.
This is not a licence for commercial mining of the rock, but to study it and also acquire markets.
At the time, criminals have also been targeting the same, though this has reduced due to the tight security.
concerns
The company hired a security firm after concerns about the rock being stolen.
However, it is not only the security company that guards the area, but also rangers and soldiers. Security officials work together to ensure that the place is protected.
In January, three people allegedly shot at security guards after they were caught allegedly stealing the Green Chert at
Malolotja.
This was published in the Times of Eswatini on January 7, 2023.
It was alleged that the three were shot after an alleged shootout with the security guards who were patrolling.
The men who had been shot spent several hours at the scene of the alleged shooting as there was no transport available to transport them to the hospital.
This was because the road was muddy as it had been raining. The alleged thieves had taken advantage of the bad weather to steal the rock.