Illegal miners at Kwekwe’s Gaika Mine claimed that they are carrying mining activities at the mine under the cover of darkness.
Soldiers and police were deployed to guard the mine after ZANU PF linked politicians tried to seize operations using machete-wielding militias.
An illegal gold panner who spoke to The Standard about their illegal mining activities said:
We are now working for the soldiers and police officers. They allow us to dig for gold ore and we share the proceeds.
A police officer, Danmore Nyashanu, from the Support Unit deployed to guard the mine was handed over to police by ZANU PF youths after they caught him at Stewart and Lloyd’s compound where he was involved in the processing of looted gold ore.
A ZANU PF youth leader Tapiwa Muto blamed the crimes committed to joblessness. Said, Muto:
It is clear that our government is respecting the rule of law and we respect that, but the owners of the mine should either cede the claim or alternatively open the mine and provide jobs for the youths because the people who used to mine here are now jobless and without income and are turning to crime.