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Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Hundreds of illegal miners have reportedly descended on Sengwe communal lands in southern Chikombedzi, Chiredzi, following news of the discovery of diamonds in the area.

Illegal miners from as far afield as Shurugwi and Zvishavane have been trooping to Gwaseche area in Sengwe after news spread via social media that gems had been discovered in the area.

There are fears the diamond rush can precipitate widespread environmental degradation in Sengwe, unless law enforcement agencies move in to contain the flood of illegal miners. Chiredzi South Member of Parliament Brigadier-General (Retired) Kalisto Gwanetsa confirmed a massive influx of illegal miners in Gwaseche.

“Gwaseche has become a hive of activity as ordinary villagers and illegal miners from towns such as Shurugwi and Zvishavane are flooding into the area to scrounge for diamonds. The numbers of illegal miners have been growing since last week when news started filtering through that diamonds had been discovered in that area,” he said

“I cannot independently confirm that the mineral is diamond and all what we have done is to inform the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development about the development so that Government can move in and establish the actual situation obtaining on the ground. After all, if the mineral is indeed diamond, there will be need for Government to make sure there is order on the ground.’’

When The Herald visited Gwaseche over the weekend, hundreds of seasoned illegal miners from around Masvingo and Midlands had descended on the area.

Some of the illegal miners, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had abandoned their operations in places such as Shurugwi to try their luck in Gwaseche after reports of the diamond discovery.

“I came here after receiving a WhatsApp message about the diamonds in Chikombedzi. I had to abandon my gold mining activities in Zvishavane. I was also surprised to discover that some of my colleagues from Zvishavane had already set camp here,’’ said the miner. Other illegal miners in the area said they were still to get the diamonds ever since they started operations in Gwaseche.

“We are yet to get the diamonds, we have been getting valueless stones, but we remain optimistic that if we continue digging, we might get the diamonds. Mining is about patients, so we will soldier on until we are sure that there are no diamonds or they are there,” said the illegal miner.

Rtd Brig-Gen Gwanetsa said police were supposed to deploy in the area and carry regular patrols to monitor the situation.

Chiredzi has potential to be a mining hub, with the district being home to new minerals that are being discovered such a shelite.

Thousands of illegal miners swarmed the Chiadzwa diamond fields in Marange in 2006 following the discovery of alluvial diamonds and sanity only returned to the area after Government moved in.