adminHundreds of fortune seekers last week invaded Sherwood Park area soon after the discovery of the gold prompting the police to cordon off the area.
There is a lot of excitement in the gold rich Midlands city as people are always asking about the latest developments on Sherwood gold alluvial which they have nicknamed “Pahasha”.
“Kune zvabuda here kuPahasha? (What are the latest developments from Sherwood Park?)”, has become the latest greeting in the city of Kwekwe.
Zanu-PF chairperson for Midlands Cde Jason Machaya said in an interview yesterday that the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Cde Obert Mpofu, was expected to tour the area today and assess the situation for himself.
He appealed to the people to exercise due caution and allow the leadership to explore and assess the amount of gold in the area before the syndicates that are being formed could be allowed to move in and pan for gold.
Cde Machaya, who is also the Midlands Provincial Governor, said the claim where the gold alluvial was discovered still belonged to the State.
He said no one had as of yet been issued with a mining licence by the Government although some individuals had submitted applications for the claim. “It is now difficult to issue anyone a licence following the gold rush. We will, however, first consider the local communities of Sherwood, then Kwekwe and the Midlands province at large in that order. If there is still more, we will then involve others from outside the province. My appeal to the people is for them to desist from moving into the cordoned area before getting instructions to do so. There is heavy security in the area and we will be enhancing security again today. I appeal to the people to be patient, tolerant and to cooperate with the security personnel,” said Cde Machaya.
Meanwhile, about three thousand people who gathered at the Zanu-PF Kwekwe District Offices were addressed by the two chairpersons of the District Co-ordinating Committee, Cde Jairos Mapenduka (Kwekwe urban) and Cde John Chademana (rural).
In an interview later, Cde Mapenduka reiterated Cde Machaya’s position that people from the Midlands before other people should benefit first from the Sherwood gold alluvial.
He said the meetings they held with Kwekwe residents helped quell a potential disaster that could have resulted from the gold rush.
“We conscientised our people and urged them to follow procedure so as to avoid causing chaos at the claim site. Our people have so far been obedient and only those from outside were transgressing resulting in some of them getting into trouble with the security people. There are security measures in place, various sections of the police, the army and even Zanu-PF’s security department is there,” said Cde Mapenduka.
News of the gold rush in Kwekwe’s Sherwood area broke out last week resulting in people from all corners of the district descending on the farming area in search of riches.
Police quickly deployed officers to avert a possible disaster that could have seen a “second Chiadzwa” erupting in the Midlands.
Online Reporter