adminWhinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
MORE than 700 illegal panners from across the country have allegedly invaded Old Motapa Mine in Bubi District following the discovery of gold deposits recently.
The gold rush, which started in April, has resulted in the death of seven people.
After the death of the panners, Bubi Rural District Council took over management of the mine to avert further tragedies.
Violence has however, resurfaced in the past days, with rival gangs clashing over gold.
Council property worth more than $6 000 was vandalised on Sunday night while some equipment and tools were stolen by a gang of 200 youths from Ward 9 allegedly led by an MDC-T official.
Bubi Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer Mr Patson Mlilo said security guards on duty were harassed, de-armed and forced to leave the mine.
Mr Mlilo said those in charge and in authority like Zanu-PF councillor for Ward 8, Cde Herbert Ngwendu and himself were living in fear as panners are baying for their blood accusing them of blocking the extraction of the gold.
“Council had hired a private security company to control activities and block any entry into the mine as it was being made secure and safe to work in. Panners however, defied all that and instead attacked the security team, disarmed them and ordered them to pack their belongings and leave the site.
“A team of more than 200 men invaded the shafts prompting locals to also mobilise themselves into a group of more than 500 and retaliate. With such a big number of people at a mine site, we fear more deaths and violence. This afternoon (yesterday), a police team had arrested more than 16 people for public violence,” said Mr Mlilo.
“People should learn to respect property that doesn’t belong to them as well as value human lives and desist from engaging in this unnecessary violence as this results in loss of lives. The way these people are operating is rather scary and indeed dangerous. We engaged police and are expecting a larger team as the number of the vicious panners is too big”.
Clr Ngwendu said banners have been mounted on trees with their names along with threats from the panners.
“Our lives are now in danger and we wish more police could be deployed and other stakeholders to chip in and help control the situation before lives are lost,” he said.
Matabeleland North acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala could not be reached for comment as his mobile phones went unanswered.
Online Reporter