Illegal gold mining takes new twist
Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday September 5, 2023 06:00
Speaking during a community meeting addressed by Member of Parliament for Tati East, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe on Thursday, Moipolai revealed that illegal gold miners have now shifted from disused gold mines to ploughing fields for their activities. The situation, he warned, has spiralled out of control, with groups of up to 50 illegal miners operating at once, posing a severe safety risk. “This is very dangerous because such large numbers of people are capable of killing in pursuit of gold,” he bemoaned.
In response, Letsholathebe acknowledged the seriousness of the illegal gold mining problem in Matsiloje and neighbouring regions. He also noted that authorities were grappling with the issue of illegal border crossings between Botswana and Zimbabwe, which is closely connected to illegal gold mining activities.
Illegal gold miners, often referred to as 'zama zamas', frequently appear in court in the area, with many of them coming from Zimbabwe. They often cite the dire economic conditions in their country as the reason for their involvement in illegal mining. Recent reports from Matsiloje police revealed that these miners were now using metal detectors to scour for gold in previously untapped land. Some of these miners are minors, only 17 years old. According to Mining Technology, a reputable online publication covering mining news, Zimbabwe tolerates and sometimes even encourages small-scale mining due to its substantial contribution to the country's economy.
Up to 500,000 people are estimated to be engaged in small-scale mining operations, which accounted for nearly half of Zimbabwe's 24.8 tonnes of gold production in 2017. The government has also shown considerable support for this sector, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa investing $150 million into these operations in 2018, as reported by Mining Technology. Mining law in Zimbabwe is primarily governed by the 1961 Mines and Minerals Act, which allows individuals, provided they are permanent residents of Zimbabwe, to apply for a mining licence, as detailed by Mining Technology.