Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
THE Lotteries and Gaming Board, supported by local police, has intensified operations in Beitbridge District to combat illegal gambling activities.
This initiative led to the destruction of 84 counterfeit gaming machines that had been seized from various businesses and homes throughout the district.
The crackdown comes in response to growing concerns from residents about the proliferation of unlicenced gambling machines, particularly in high-density suburbs.
Many operators had installed these illegal devices in their homes, attracting children and exposing them to gambling.
The destruction of the machines took place at Mashavire Business Centre, with many community stakeholders and residents witnessing the event.
An accompanying awareness campaign aimed at discouraging excessive and illegal gambling was launched, starting at the main police station and moving through several business centres in the border town.
Lotteries and Gaming Board interim secretary Dr Misheck Chingozha emphasised the significance of this operation.
Speaking through Mr Bornwell Madhake, the board’s financial controller, he remarked on the need for compliance and regulation within Zimbabwe’s gaming industry.
“Today the gaming industry in Zimbabwe takes a major step forward with compliance at the forefront of its future growth. This is a bold statement that demonstrates to the entire nation that illegal gaming has no place in Zimbabwe,” Dr Chingozha asserted.
He stressed that the country must not be built on short cuts or illegal activities, advocating for a society governed by the rule of law and integrity.
Dr Chingozha warned that illegal gaming not only threatens the integrity of the industry but also undermines legitimate operators. He declared, “Legitimate gambling is a pillar to society and Government revenue streams. The leakages that come with illegal gaming are destructive to both the socio-economic fabric and standing of a nation.”
He urged individuals in Beitbridge and beyond to cease all illegal gaming activities, emphasising that the gaming sector is highly regulated and that there is no room for criminality in a progressive society.
Chief Superintendent Melusi Ncube, the officer commanding Beitbridge district, echoed these sentiments, noting that illegal gaming activities prey on vulnerable populations, eroding lawful businesses and fostering criminal syndicates.
“The stakes, quite literally, are far too high for us to proceed with anything less than a robust and unrelenting response,” he stated.
Ncube called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to put an end to illegal and excessive gambling.
