The arrests
followed weeks of unauthorized digging at the hilltop government complex where
alleged army personnel cordoned off the area around the DDC’s residence so that
ordinary villagers could not pass through or have access to the area.
Sources who
spoke to TellZim News however said the two’s arrests indicated that what they
were doing despite being public office bearers.
“The arrests
confirm this was never an official operation. Machukele and Maregedze were
directly involved in authorizing these illegal excavations, and the CID
Minerals Unit moved in after the damage to government property was reported to
different authorities,” a senior government source told TellZim News.
Maregedze was
arrested during a council meeting at Zaka RDC offices yesterday (November 26),
where CID officers confiscated her belongings and escorted her out.
“She was
visibly shaken and asked a councillor to immediately contact her husband,
Clemence Chiduwa who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Zaka South, to
intervene in the matter,” said a council insider.
The treasure
hunt began last year when a white man claiming to be the son of Zaka’s first
District Administrator approached the then DDC Memory Dhliwayo.
“A white man
who said his father had buried gold and other treasures near the government
house approached Dhliwayo and even provided a map. That’s when Maregedze,
Chiduwa and Dhliwayo brought some excavators but they were stopped from
exploration and the heavy machines went back,” revealed a source.
Another source
provided a different account of how the treasure hunt began, suggesting
Dhliwayo discovered a tunnel through one of the rooms after an accident.
“Dhliwayo
discovered a tunnel beneath the house after she had accidentally fell in
through one of the rooms. It probably had a trap door but could have been
destroyed with age. That’s when they investigated and found that underneath it
looked like a mine, prompting them to attempt exploring,” said the source.
Events that
followed resulted in Dhliwayo being threatened with eviction from the house, and
she had refused to comment on the matter when contacted by TellZim News last
year.
Sources
indicate that when Machukele assumed office, he attempted to legitimize the
ongoing excavations by writing to the Minister of State, claiming he had
discovered tunnels beneath his official residence.
“Machukele’s
letter was just damage control. The truth is his predecessor, Dhliwayo, first
discovered these tunnels and reported an underground mine. Machukele simply
continued what she started,” said a source.
The involvement
of Maregedze, who has mining interests in Mashava, was imminent since she had
already shown interest in the place during Dhliwayo’s time.
“Maregedze and
her husband Chiduwa provided the excavators and the manpower for the
exploration. Chiduwa used his influence as Zaka DCC chair and his links to
other high offices to bring in the army under the guise of exploring for
minerals. She used her proximity to power to operate at a government house and
using the army was a good diversion,” revealed a source close to the
investigation.
Villagers near
the government compound expressed relief at the arrests but remained concerned
about environmental damage.
“We’ve lived in
fear since these excavations began. The constant digging and talk of explosives
made us fear for our safety. The government must restore order and hold those
responsible accountable,” said one villager. TellZimNews
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