Machete gangs terrorise Mat South miners
MACHETE gangs have wreaked havoc in Matabeleland South province, attacking miners and robbing them of their gold ore.
The marauding gangs recently hit three mines in a week, leaving several injured and escaping with gold ore.
Last week, the machete gangs clashed over gold claims around Nugget Mine in Matopo.
Three days ago, a machete gang reportedly pounced on claims under Freda Mine in Makwe, Gwanda, and bludgeoned a number of artisanal miners and dispossessed them of their gold ore.
Their latest hit is a mine at Vova in Colleen Bawn, Gwanda, where they attacked yesterday, but there were no casualties.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the matter and urged miners to be vigilant.
“We have had sporadic cases of machete gangs in the mining areas in the province. They haven’t been that serious. However, we urge miners to be more vigilant. They should also employ security guards at their mines and report any suspicious movements so that we prevent these raids,” Ndebele said.
A source from Makwe said the machete gang which raided their area was driving a Mazda Bongo truck.
“They attacked here three days ago. They arrived and loaded gold ore in the truck after assaulting and injuring people,” he said.
The resurfacing of the machete gangs sends shivers down the spines of miners who once went through a torrid time at the hands of the violent gangs.
A few months ago, machete gangs popularly known as MaShurugwi unleashed a reign a terror in mining areas around the country, leading to the death of more than 120 people, according to a report.
Police had to launch operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere/No to Machete Gangs, which brought sanity to the mining sector with a number of machete gang leaders arrested.