BY SAMUEL NJINGA
Illegal gold panners are said to be wreaking havoc and terror in ward 24 in Chivi where they are reported to be using machetes, catapults, knives and other dangerous sharp objects that are unique in assaulting and torturing their targets. Ward 24 Councilor, Christopher Muzvidziwa confirmed.
“Many people have been for a period exceeding a fortnight now, tormented by these thugs and hooligans. There is a strange crop of illegal gold panners that is terrorising innocent people in this area. They subject their prey to psychological torture and trauma through continuous canning. I am told that in some cases they don`t talk. All they do is to use their machetes to cut down the civilians` legs before fleeing away into thick bushes, nearby stream banks, hills and mountains.” Explained Muzvidziwa.
Efforts to establish the real motive behind the perpetration of this nature of crime hit a brick wall as nobody was forthcoming in providing the probable reason due to fear.
“All I think is that these culprits are emanating from rural areas around Chasiyatende and Gororo where illegal gold panning activities are rife these days.” Said one of the local women, Chipo Makurunje.
A local member who identified himself as Tawedzerwa Mukondo said that it was mind boggling to realise that some of these illegal gold panners proceed on to rape most of the women in the area.
“Initially we thought that this deviant behavior was being politically aggravated by politicians for reasons that we don`t know. However, we now have another narrative being orchestrated. This points to drug and substance abuse. It is not all about being assaulted. It is also important to note that some of these women don`t give you a vivid account of what is prevailing in this area. There are reports of rape cases that are occurring in the bushes. Our women are being raped by these unscrupulous elements. Once a woman finds herself embraced in such kind of circumstances, she does not disclose it, all because of fear of the unknown. The other reason for not disclosing their fate is due to lack of information as well as phobia related to stigmatisation.” Said Mukondo.
“Issues to do with patriarchy and cultural practices also contribute a lot when it comes to justifying the reasons as to why some of the women remain silence after being raped.”
When contacted for comment, Masvingo Police Spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, said that they have embarked on an intense operation that is targeting all illegal mining activities in the area.
“We condone violence. As we speak, we have with effect from the 3rd of February embarked on an intense operation that is geared towards apprehending all these perpetrators of violence and in particular eradicating all illegal gold mining activities in the province.” Said Dhewa.