Police have arrested over 1 500 illegal gold panners and 3 471 people found in possession of machetes and other objects considered to be dangerous weapons.
This was revealed by Home Affairs and National Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe during a press conference in Harare on Thursday. He said:
We have met with our Mines and Mining Development ministry counterparts and the police commanders today to discuss the topical issues of the machete-wielding gangs.
The media is awash with stories of machete-wielding gang wars and this is worrisome to us as we want peace and security to prevail.
Kazembe added that security services will continue with the raids until law and order are restored in the country.
Machete-wielding gangs, mostly prevalent in gold-mining areas, commonly referred to as MaShurugwi, have been wreaking havoc across the country in recent months.