Criminal activities by marauding gangs of artisanal miners
turned machete attackers have surged countrywide, with reported cases of
murder, rape, assault, housebreaking and stock theft leaving many communities
in perpetual fear of attacks.
Police have since started raids on illegal mining sites in
all provinces and have recovered an array of weapons and equipment used mainly
for gold panning.
Various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Mines and
Mining Development, have also been engaged to help in curbing illegal mining
activities as the net closes in on the gangs.
Police statistics show that in the mineral-rich Midlands
Province, reported criminal cases rose 33 percent in the first nine months of
2019 because of the influx of machete attackers.
In Bindura, more than 157 people were arrested for
conducting illegal mining activities in the past two weeks, with police seizing
generators and weapons such as machetes used by panners in robberies.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi confirmed the launch of an operation to curb the criminal activities.
“Police in all the provinces have ongoing operations to
ensure there is sanity, law and order at various mining sites,” he said.
“We are also working with various stakeholders like the
Ministry of Mines and Mining Development during these operations.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said investigations had shown that people
were coming from various places countrywide to raid and rob bona fide miners
and rival panners of gold ore, goods, cash and foodstuffs.
“The police would like to warn people not to interfere with
officers discharging their duties of maintaining law and order or the full
wrath of the law will descend on them without fear or favour,” Asst Comm Nyathi
said.
In the Midlands, 3 709 cases were reported between January
and September 2019, compared to 2 789 recorded during the corresponding period
last year.
This marked increase in crime follows reports that other
provinces, including Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Manicaland have
also been invaded by large numbers of machete attackers.
Mazowe and Bindura in Mashonaland Central and Penhalonga in
Manicaland are among the gold-rich areas most affected by the fortune-seeking
gangs which do not hesitate to use violence to satisfy their greediness.
Addressing the business community and residents during the
launch of the Police Provincial Client Service Charter and Cop of the Year
Awards ceremony at ZRP Zvishavane Camp this week, Officer Commanding Midlands
Province Commissioner Moses Magandi said there was need for the police and
stakeholders to work together to curb crime.
“Our crime analysis indicates that general crime increased
by 33 percent during the period extending from January to September 2019,
compared to the same period last year,” he said.
“The increase in crime may be attributed to the influx of
artisanal miners from some parts of the country who come into our area
searching for precious stones since we are blessed with mineral deposits in the
province.”
Comm Magandi said Zvishavane and Mberengwa districts were
the most affected, with the most common cases being unlawful entry and theft,
assault, stock theft and rape of minors. He said a decrease was noted in rape
cases involving adults.
Comm Magandi said the police had stepped up efforts by
implementing strategies to ensure that the crime rate was kept under control.
“We have enhanced foot and mobile police patrols in urban
set-ups and general patrols in rural areas,” he said.
“Let me advise members of the public not to move around
with large sums of cash as robbery cases are also on the increase mostly in
urban areas. Motorists must avoid offering transport to hitch-hikers along
highways, and people should also avoid walking in unlit streets and secluded
areas in both urban and rural areas.”
Comm Magandi said unlawful entry and theft cases were now
common in both low and high density residential areas and industrial sites,
with criminals targeting cash, cellphones, laptops, electrical gadgets and
other valuables. Herald
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