Three ZANU PF legislators in Mashonaland Central province, Patrick Dutiro (Guruve South), Campion Mugweni (Mazowe North) and Remigious Matangira (Bindura South) are reportedly frustrating police efforts to arrest illegal miners and machete gangs.
However, Dutiro denied allegations that he mobilised miners to cause havoc and illegally mine at Eureka Mine. He said:
I conducted a meeting with villagers because there is bad blood between the local police and villagers. So my meeting was for them to engage the police and mine owners so that they reach a consensus.
My meeting was genuine. I am not campaigning [ahead of the forthcoming Zanu PF district coordinating council (DCC) elections in Guruve] as alleged because my ground is already even.
Mungweni and Matangira both denied the allegations, with latter claiming to be a victim of MaShurugwi.
Police launched Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere in late 2019 in a bid to contain illegal mining activities and machete-wielding thugs known as MaShurugwi. Over 1 000 illegal miners have since been arrested.
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