Zimpapers Logo

Freedom Mupanedemo in KWEKWE
Dozens of artisanal miners have descended on Kwekwe’s Mbizo Section 22 suburb following reports that gold deposits have been discovered in the area. The gold rush has seen artisanal miners camping in Mbizo since Monday. Some of the miners came from as far away as Mbire in Mashonaland Central.

They have reportedly left a trail of destruction in the area in search of the precious metal. Mbizo Section 22 councillor, Lemson Dube said there were fears of a cholera outbreak as the artisanal miners were camping in the bush with no ablution facilities.

He said the gold rush was just a hoax since there were no indications that there were gold deposits in the area. Clr Dube said the artisanal miners were causing land degradation as the mineral remained elusive.

“You know it’s a hype that is common among artisanal miners. Word that gold deposits have been found in Mbizo just spread and people have flocked the area, but there is no gold to show on the ground,” he said.

“They are just digging, but nothing has been found so far.” Clr Dube said the gold rush was triggered by reports that a group of artisanal miners in the area had found some nuggets.

“I think it was only one incident where some artisanal miners came across nuggets, but there is nothing to show that the area might be rich in gold deposits,” he said. Clr Dube said there were fears that the gold rush could be a health time bomb.

“You know, there is cholera outbreak in other areas, it could also happen here if the situation remains like this with people concentrating and congesting in one place with no ablution and other health facilities,” he said. Clr Dube said some artisanal miners were beginning to disperse after realising that there were no significant gold deposits in the area.

“They are slowly dispersing, but you know artisanal miners are persistent. There are some who are still camped, but we hope they will soon realise that it was just hype and nothing else,” he said. An artisanal miner, Joram Goto, who came all the way from Mbire to camp in Kwekwe said they did not find anything since they arrived last weekend.

“When word reached us to the effect that there was gold rush in Kwekwe, we quickly came because someone had said 2kg of gold nuggets had been found. This is, however, not the situation on the ground and we will be going back home soon,” he said.