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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
MINISTER of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Abedinico Ncube has urged miners to desist from risking their lives by engaging in illegal mining activities, which are also destroying the environment.
Recently two illegal gold panners died after a shaft they were working in collapsed in Dubane area in Gwanda. Two others escaped. The body of one of the illegal gold panners is still trapped in the shaft.
The illegal gold panners have invaded peoples’ farms in search of gold. They are also conducting their activities along rivers.
Cde Ncube said there was a need for relevant authorities to act on illegal gold panners as some were acting in daylight.
“We have a lot of illegal panning activities taking place in the province and lives are being lost almost every week. The illegal panners risk their lives by operating in condemned areas and they operate without necessary safety clothing. They should desist from such negligence.
Those wishing to engage in mining should follow the correct procedure and obtain necessary documents,” he said.
Minister Ncube said police should arrest people engaging in illegal gold panning because they are not only putting their lives at risk but are also destroying the environment.
“These illegal gold panning activities are causing a lot of harm to the environment and many people including farmers have been greatly affected,” he said.
Cde Ncube said illegal gold panning sites have also become crime hotspots.
He said cases of drug and substance abuse, child labour, rape and murder were on the increase in these areas.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Matabeleland South provincial manager, Mr Descent Ndlovu said illegal gold panning activities in the province were being recorded mostly along rivers and streams.
He said the panners will be after alluvial gold which is deposited at the banks of rivers.
Mr Ndlovu said illegal gold panning activities caused contamination of water bodies and siltation of dams.
He said illegal gold panning activities also lead to land degradation and pollution of the environment.
Mr Ndlovu said some illegal gold panners dig shafts which they leave uncovered thereby putting the lives of people and their livestock at risk.
“We have a lot of alluvial gold in Umzingwane and Insiza which is attracting many illegal gold panners.
“Alluvial gold is an easy target for the panners because it doesn’t require blasting.
These illegal gold panners use chemicals which are dangerous to people downstream,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said since the panners do not have toilets, human waste is deposited into water bodies which might result in outbreak of cholera.
“We also have issues of deforestation because these illegal gold panners will be cutting down trees,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said as an agency they have alerted the police on some of the illegal gold panning activities. He said it is a challenge for EMA to engage illegal gold panners as they flee when they see authorities.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Loveness Mangena said there is an ongoing operation to end illegal gold panning.
“Police officers have been deployed to different corners of the province to arrest the illegal gold panners under the ongoing operation titled Chikorokoza Chapera. Some of the illegal gold panners flee as soon as they see vehicles approaching but we are employing different tactics to arrest them.
Illegal gold panning is a serious problem in the province as some of the miners are now digging for gold along the highways and railway line,” she said.–@DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter