BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) rangers and the Police have launched an intensive operation that has so far netted about 24 illegal gold panners for environmental degradation offences and panning in the Greater Bulawayo and its water catchment area.
Bulawayo’s water catchment area has for some time now been invaded by illegal gold panners who have wrought massive environmental damage.
The latest council minutes state that water catchment area joint patrols were resuscitated after a long break.
“During these patrols, 24 illegal gold panners were arrested, 215 hand tools and eight detector machines were confiscated. All the items were handed over to police in Esigodini as (exhibits) in the court,” the minutes read.
“To date, 317 hand tools including detector machines and 79 gold panners have been confiscated and arrested, respectively.”
Patrols were also conducted in Greater Bulawayo to curb mineral and sand extraction.
“Routine and extended patrols within Greater Bulawayo targeted sand poachers and firewood harvesters. A total of six trucks were confiscated and impounded.
“Illegal worshippers were also evicted and their structures pulled down. It had been noted with concern that the number of illegal worshippers was increasing.
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“We were looking forward to getting vehicle allocation from the fleet that had been purchased since we have one unreliable patrol van in Greater Bulawayo,” the minutes added.
Meanwhile, a fire management campaign was conducted in ward 17 Methodist village on May 26.
It was attended by the BCC lands officer, the Environment Management Agency, police, the Forestry Commission and the community.
