The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) reports that some illegal gold panners fled from the scene abandoning mining equipment. Said police in a statement:
Police in Chinhoyi recovered abandoned mining equipment at Mwendo Mining Syndicate on 16/03/22. The property which includes 8 hammer mill engines, water pump, welding machine and 2 electric motors were recovered during a Police raid after the owners fled the mining site.
In a related case, police in Mazowe arrested 17 suspects on 16 March 2022 for violating COVID-19 regulations and prospecting for gold without licences at Bigy Bigy area.
Police recovered 5 generators, 3 electrical jackhammers, a pressure jack hummer, 2 motor box head, 8 shovels, 2 air blowers, 4 picks, 20 litres of diesel and a 36m rope.