Police raid mines to enforce COVID-19 precautions

POLICE in Matabeleland South have started raiding mines to enforce COVID-19 regulations that have reportedly been disregarded by most miners.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed that they were conducting raids in the province.

“Ever since we started conducting this operation, as of Friday we had 115 arrests made in Bulilima Mangwe-Plumtree and 145 in Gwanda with an accumulating figure of $58 100 raised in fines. I am still waiting for the weekend statistics which are yet to be received,” Ndebele said.

Matabeleland South Small-Scale Miners Association spokesperson and Zimbabwe Miners Federation secretary-general, Philemon Mokoena said police were still patrolling the mining areas.

“They started last week, they have been going around in districts checking if the workers are in full personal protective wear. Some have been arrested and others haven't, especially those that are under ZMF, they were well prepared and they were in full gear,” Mokoena said.

Mokoena said miners had been arrested for working without PPE.

“I am not really sure of the statistics, but almost a thousand people have been arrested for not wearing proper protective clothing ... Check with the police for statistics but from my own perspective I think ±500 individuals have been caught unawares for not having the proper gear and observing social distancing while working,” he said.

“What we need to make sure is our workers are in full uniform, safety shoes, helmets, masks and also maintaining social distancing whenever in a public place.

“Make sure your hammer mill is commissioned and environment impact assessment papers are in order before police visit your mine. Let’s co-operate good people to avoid embarrassment and time wasting.”