POORLY paid members of the police are reportedly working
closely with illegal gold miners with some officers, their relatives and
spouses allegedly engaging in prostitution with leaders of the machete
syndicates across the country as they seek survival.
Police officers, mainly from Chikurubi Support Unit, are
reportedly heavily invested in the illegal activities at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe,
where machete wars have been rife, causing headaches for their bosses.
Acting Officer Commanding Support Unit, one Assistant
Commissioner Dube, has been forced to act after complaints and concerns were
raised over his subordinates and their relatives’ involvement with the miners.
In a leaked internal memorandum circulated to all stations
under his command, theofficer commanding Support Unit, warned members of his
team to stop colluding with the illegal gold panners.
“This office has learnt with great dismay that there are
some members, their spouses and relatives who reside in Chikurubi and other
police camps in and around Harare, who visit Mazowe Jumbo Mine for the purposes
of vending, illegal panning, prostitution and other illicit activities,” Dube
wrote.
He further alleged that police raids and attempts to arrest
suspected illegal gold miners and members of the
now-infamous machete gangs were being hampered as a result
of collusion of those with internal information which they were now passing on
to the gold panners.
“This office is relentless in its effort to bring these
culprits, who also hinder police operations by selling out information on
intended operations at the said places, to book. Treat this matter with the
seriousness it deserves,” Dube said.
Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Blessmore Chishaka
said he would need to check with the responsible authorities first before
commenting.
“I am hearing it for the first time,” he said.
Owing to the harsh economic environment, police officers,
including top commanders, have turned to illegal activities including illegal
gold mining and trade, prostitution and vending at gold panning sites to
sustain their livelihoods.
Acting officer commanding Chegutu District Superintendent
Wonder Chisikwa was the most recently arrested top police officer, nabbed for
allegedly extracting gold ore illegally.
Together with Zanu PF legislator Dexter Nduna and
Mashonaland West party provincial youth chairman Vengai Musengi, Chisikwa is
accused of engaging in illegal mining activities at the David Whitehead waste
deposit site in Chegutu.
Panners at Jumbo Mine said some high ranking female police
officers had become mistresses of illegal gold buyers and were living lavish
lifestyles from the proceeds of the activities.
“There are gold buyers who are untouchable. They pay off
senior police officers and are in sexual affairs with others to the extent that
they don’t face arrest even when they are involved in criminal activities like
violence,” said a source.
Highly placed insiders said police were now failing to
contain the illegal gold mining wars which have now spilled over and wrecked
havoc in communities largely because they have become compromised.
“Everyone is getting into the gold rush, top police
officers, politicians and top civil servants are all involved in this trade.
They head their own syndicates and collect royalties, so now it has become a
challenge because those who have to stop it are now part of it,” said the
source.
Former Cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo, bitter after being
flashed out of government through a military coup in November 2017, added his
voice saying top government and party officials were behind the machete gangs.
He said on his Twitter account that former vice-president
Phelekezela Mphoko once presented a report in Cabinet which fingered some
ministers and Zanu PF leaders in illegal gold mining and sponsorship of bloody
wars that have gone out of control.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba, although not
responding to allegations by Moyo, said the machete wars had to be stopped and
would be stopped.
“The arm of the law has to be felt and this has to be
stopped, it can’t go on any further. Government is committed to ensure that
there is peace and security in this country,” he said.
Information ministry permanent secretary, Nick Mangwana
said any criminal activity was of concern to government.
“More so if it [criminal activity] involves people in
positions of trust such as senior government officials and members of the
security services,” Mangwana said.
“We have a fiduciary role and we are not put in the these
positions to pursue selfish self-interest.” Standard
0 comments:
Post a Comment