Machete-wielding gangs (MaShurugwi) murdered 27 people in Silobela alone from January 2019 to date.
This was revealed by Home Affairs deputy minister Mike Madiro on Thursday on Thursday while responding to a question by Mashonaland Central Senator Alice Chimbudzi in the Senate.
Chimbudzi has asked Madiro to explain measures being taken by the government to protect small-scale miners from attacks by MaShurugwi. Madiro responded:
From January 2019 to date, 35 murders with 27 of the cases recorded in Silobela alone, of which six and 20 accused persons respectively were arrested and referred to court.
On this note, it is critical to highlight that none of these crimes occurred at mining sites but they occurred at beer outlets and in homes following misunderstandings and domestic disputes.
Madiro further revealed that a total of 35 murders, 225 robberies, 382 assaults and 15 were committed throughout the country by the machete-wielding gangs.