Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE unfettered hunt for gold has led daring artisanal miners to a Sakubva River tributary that runs from Old Bordervale through the area behind Max’s Shopping Centre in Palmerstone suburb, near Mutare Central Business District (CBD), leaving land and environmental degradation in their wake.
The latest incident is part of a growing pattern of illegal gold mining activities in and around Mutare.
Last year, artisanal miners, popularly known as makorokoza, descended on sections of Sakubva River in the Riverside Industrial Area, causing widespread environmental destruction along the riverbanks.
Similar illegal mining activities have also been reported beyond Nyakamete Industrial Area along the Mutare-Vumba Road.
The operations near Max’s Shopping Centre have severely scarred the waterway and surrounding land, raising concern among residents and authorities over the long-term impact on the ecosystem and public infrastructure.
The miners, who were recently dispersed by law enforcement agents, are believed to have come from high-density suburbs including Dangamvura, Chikanga, Hobhouse and Sakubva.
Residents say they had been camping along the stream since January and carried out their activities under the cover of darkness to evade detection.
Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Manicaland Provincial Mining Director, Engineer Sibongubuhle Mpindiwa, confirmed the development on Wednesday.
He said ministry inspectors visited the site on September 28 after a video circulating on social media showed suspected illegal gold mining activities behind Max’s Shopping Centre.
“Our inspector visited the site on September 28 following a video clip on alleged mining along a stream in Palmerstone. It was established that the illegal miners had already been dispersed by police on September 27. During the inspection, no miners were found on site. However, extensive environmental degradation was observed along the stream, characterised by numerous small mining shafts.
“Some of the pits were estimated to be about 1,5 metres deep, indicating significant disturbance of the riverine environment and surrounding land as a result of the illegal mining activities,” said Engineer Mpindiwa.
The discovery mirrors events from last year when artisanal miners dug up stretches of land behind Mutare Bottling Company and Yeovil suburb along Sakubva River in search of the precious metal.
Property owners in nearby areas now fear the illegal mining could compromise the structural integrity of buildings and other infrastructure.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Environmental Management Agency were unsuccessful as provincial spokespersons were attending to preparations for the ongoing Manicaland Agricultural Show.
Despite assurances that police dispersed the miners, residents remain sceptical that the threat has been eliminated.
Locals warned that urban gold mining poses serious dangers, including destabilisation of riverbanks, increased soil erosion, siltation and heightened flood risks.
The activities can also damage roads, sewer and water reticulation systems, while weakening building foundations in surrounding neighbourhoods.
Mr George Sithole of Palmerstone, said residents remain anxious despite the police operation.
“We are deeply concerned about the illegal gold mining taking place close to our properties.
“While we were relieved to hear that law enforcement agents dispersed the miners, we are yet to be convinced that they have left for good,” he said.
Another resident, Mrs Susan Makhuyana, said the environmental damage left behind has become a major public health concern.
She said abandoned pits filled with water pose drowning risks and provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes, while sediment and chemicals threaten water quality.
“The land degradation was severe and had become a health hazard. We all know the social problems associated with such activities, and residents were living in fear that the situation would worsen.
“Since the miners operated mainly at night, we can only hope they are not returning under the cover of darkness while we believe they have gone for good,” said Mrs Makhuyana.
Residents further warned that the illegal activities generate excessive dust and noise, expose miners and passers-by to the danger of pit collapses, and often attract crime and other social ills, placing additional pressure on law enforcement agencies and municipal services.
