GWANDA North traditional leader Chief Khulumani Mathema has appealed to the government to deploy more police personnel within his community to curb escalating violence committed by illegal miners.
Chief Mathema said the illegal miners were wreaking havoc on his subjects with many incidents of attacks being recorded in his area.
“The illegal miners do not respect anyone because when they discover that in someone’s field there is abundant gold, they invade without seeking permission. This has caused some residents to lose their fields as they are destroyed,’’ Chief Mathema said.
He said the illegal miners had also destroyed the environment as mostly they live behind open pits which harm people and livestock.
“The rogue behaviour by those people is worrisome as they make our community to be dangerous to live in, hence the appeal for increased police manpower so that they can end such behaviour,” he said.
Chief Mathema said they were cases of rape and assault in the area committed by illegal miners resulting in his subjects living in fear.
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“Last weekend there were some church members who were attacked by the illegal miners using dangerous weapons while they were convening for a service, their leader was injured and taken to the hospital. This shows how dangerous they are as they have a tendency of attacking innocent citizens,’’ he said.
Chief Mathema said if police presence increased in Gwanda North rural it would curb violent crimes which were mostly perpetrated by illegal miners.
“If the police manpower is increased within rural areas it will decrease the issue of deaths related to illegal mining activities within our community,’’ he said.