adminPolice have, however, denied reports of fatalities saying only two suspected gold panners were injured.
However, some illegal gold panners and buyers yesterday claimed there were fatalities.
They claimed that one of the deceased was a police detective who was involved in an accident while fleeing from the police.
A policeman was also arrested while panning for gold.
Heavily armed police have since been deployed in the area. No one, even policemen and soldiers not deployed to the area are allowed to enter the gold fields.
A gold panner who spoke on condition of anonymity said said hundreds of panners and buyers raided the area in search of the precious mineral.
“The gold was discovered by members of an Apostolic Sect using metal detectors on December 26 last year. They bought a fleet of cars which shocked residents in the town,” he said.
The gold panners reportedly tracked down the sect members and discovered the goldfields.
The panners have since descended on the farm in search of gold.
Police have since then been engaged in running battles with the panners.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Patrick Chademana yesterday confirmed that they had sealed off the area to restore sanity.
“We want sanity to prevail while we identify the proper owners of the mining claim,” he said.
Inspector Chademana said four people were claiming ownership and they were waiting for determination from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
“Police have been called in and it is only after the Mining Commission has issued an order then the rightful owner will operate.”
He said two people were attacked and injured by police dogs.
“No one was killed. Only a few rogue thugs who intended to pan, threw stones at the police,” he said.
Insp Chademana said the two who were injured sustained bruises during the arrest.
“We are not fighting the people and all we want is for sanity to prevail,” he said.
He said according to reports, three people who had metal detectors discovered the alluvial gold in the bushy area.
The Herald yesterday visited the area and saw the armed police.
Officials from the Environmental Management Agency visited the area to assess the situation.
Some of the gold panners could be seen milling around the area.
The panners are believed to have come from as far as Mutare while more were still expected to besiege the area.
This is not the first time gold panners have clashed with the police following the discovery of the precious mineral.
In March 2010, police and panners in Chegutu were engaged in running battles following the discovery of gold near Hintonville suburb.
The gold deposits were reportedly discovered at a site belonging to Exor Service Station near the town centre in 2009.
Ten people were arrested for contravening the Mines and Minerals Act.
Online Reporter