Parliament will start next week to conduct an inquiry into the origins of machete gangs (MaShurugwi), how they are operating, the impact of their activities on gold and what can be done to eliminate them.
This was said by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development Chairperson Edmond Mukaratigwa while addressing a press conference on Wednesday. He said:
We acknowledge the efforts by different Government departments and the Committee has keenly discussed this issue today (yesterday) and resolved to conduct an inquiry into the matter in order to identify and trace the foundation and development of the gold panning gangs; to find out the impact of their activities on gold production in light of the $12 billion target set for the mining industry by 2023; to establish what Government is doing to end the perpetuity of the terrorism against gold producers by the gold panning gangs.
The Committee will summon Ministers of Mines and Mining Development (Winston Chitando), Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage (Kazembe Kazembe), Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (Ziyambi Ziyambi), Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi to appear before it.
Media executives and editors, traditional chiefs, civil society organisations, the Zimbabwe Miners Federation and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission will also give oral evidence before the Committee.