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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
Illegal miners have destroyed a section of the Zvishavane-Buchwa Highway in Birthday suburb of Zvishavane after some gold deposits were discovered along the highway.
Traffic intending to get into Zvishavane or going to Buchwa using the highway has been forced to establish a detour, as the illegal gold panners wreak havoc, digging on the tar and leaving huge open pits.
Zvishavane Town Council chairman and councillor for ward 9, Mr Khulekani Ndlovu, said the local authority had since engaged the police who have been involved in running battles with the illegal miners.
He said the illegal miners have not been deterred by the presence of the police as they continue to dig on the road with reckless abandon.
“We have a situation in Zvishavane because the illegal miners are destroying roads and seem so determined,” said Mr Ndlovu.
“The Zvishavane-Buchwa Road is in danger and there is need for the police to up the game because at the moment the illegal miners just wait for the police to do their routine two or three raids a day and then they come and dig for gold even at night.”
Mr Ndlovu said the bigger part of the road had been destroyed as the illegal miners were also digging under the road.
“The destruction we see on the surface could be minimal at the mere look of an eye, but there is more to it,” he said.
“These artisanal miners have actually been mining under the road and the effect of it is that we are now seeing the road caving in from the surface.”
Residents of Birthday suburb said they were having a hard time as they are affected by the unruly miners’ behaviour.
“At times the police who will be chasing after the fleeing illegal miners throw teargas and it is affecting us a lot,” said Mr Donald Shumba.
A motorist, Mrs Idah Gumbo, said there must be a lasting solution to stop further destruction of the road.
“The level of destruction is very worrisome,” she said.
“Even if people want money, they should look for legal and better ways of making the money. We have a serious situation in this town.
“The situation now needs us all to see how best to stop this rampant destruction of our road infrastructure.”
Online Reporter