The vicious omakorokoza who are often prepared to kill or
maim rivals to scare away competition at mining claims, clashed with villagers
from Tsholotsho and Nyamandlovu at Lewisham 2 Mine in Ward 14 in Umguza
District.
The area which is just after St James High School has many
mining claims but most people are mining unprocedurally. Gold panners commonly
known as omakorokoza are all over the area where they are leaving deep
uncovered pits.
The environment is littered with plastic soft drinks and
beer empties as well as human waste. When Chronicle visited the area on Monday
afternoon, omakorokoza were digging in search of gold.
A villager Mr Charles Mudenda, recounted how the
omakorokoza went haywire last week, attacking more than 300 people.
He had several long stitches on his head after being
attended to at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo. “They moved from place to
place indiscriminately attacking anyone. They were about a group of 20 but I
was attacked by four young boys. I was helpless as I could not fight four armed
youths who were merciless. They axed me several times on my head and they only
left me when my face was covered in blood. I am still experiencing body pains,”
he said.
Mr Mudenda said he was attended to at Mpilo Central
Hospital after being transferred from Nyamandlovu District hospital. He said he
reported the matter at Nyamandlovu Police Station but villagers feel some
police officers could have been bribed to turn a blind eye.
Mr Mudenda said the hospital did not do an X-ray to
ascertain the degree of his head injuries and he was living in fear as he is
still bed ridden.
“This is not the first time this is happening. Every time
when we are lucky to get some gold, news spreads and the next thing we will be
forced out and beaten by miners coming from other places. Soon some people will
be killed here ,” he said.
Mr Mudenda said the omakorokoza took all the ore from the
people for processing leaving them without anything. He said even those who
were down the shafts were ordered out and received their share of thorough
beatings.
“I heard that they had three cars which they used to load
all our ore and they left. But soon after, an excavator came to mine at the
area. So it is difficult to know if they were sent to clear us out so that the
big fish could move in,” he said.
Another villager Ms Sithabile Moyo said her brother, Mr
Mehluli Moyo, was also seriously beaten and is receiving treatment in Bulawayo.
“He told us the men started by attacking the women who sell
food to the miners and he did not think that he was a target and did not mind
running for cover. When they got to him, they hit him with the back of an axe
on the head and kicked him. He came home struggling to walk with his clothes
bloodied and we had to use the little money we had so that he goes to Bulawayo for
medical attention,” she said.
Ms Moyo said the men told them they do not want to see
anyone at the mine. She said other villagers across the river in Dlula village
under Tsholotsho District suffered the same fate, although she did not know how
many were injured.
Mrs Thethesiwe Moyo (74) said villagers are now living as
prisoners in their own area due to the activities of omakorokoza. She appealed for Government intervention so
that communities also benefit from their resources.
“As women we are afraid to go there because of the constant
fights,” she said. Environmental Management Agency provincial manager, Mrs
Chipo Mpofu Zuze said:
“We conducted an inspection last month in respect to mining
activities taking place at Lewisham 2 Mine in Ward 14, Umguza District. This
was in response to a complaint received by the Agency that there were illegal
mining activities being conducted along a river. There was a gold rush a week
ago where about 300 people from within the locality and some from outside the
area invaded an old ‘abandoned’ trench.”
Mrs Mpofu Zuze said they fined the mine owner for mining
without an environmental impact assessment certificate. She raised concern over
litter such as solid waste from food packaging.
Tsholotsho Rural District Council chairperson councillor
Esau Siwela said they have the same problem across the river in Ward 20.
“There are about 12 mines that are operating illegally in
our area. They did not seek authority and clearance from us. It is just
individuals who are benefitting from this so the chaos is benefitting them. Our
communities are crying for help as they are losing out in many ways,” he said.
Cllr Siwela challenged the Ministry of Mines and Mining
Development to visit the area and see what is happening on the ground so that
they act against people they gave the mining claims.
Matabeleland North Provincial police spokesperson Inspector
Glory Bhanda said he was yet to receive a report about the attack. Chronicle
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