The ManicaPost
Ray Bande : Senior Reporter
SENIOR security management at Imbeza Estate in Penhalonga has been implicated in rampant illegal gold mining activities in the area.This came to light after five people including security guards were arrested on Tuesday night in possession of 700 grams of gold illegally mined from the estate.
Although deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda, confirmed the arrest of the five, he declined to shed more light, saying investigations were in progress.
“Yes, the information that we have is that some arrests were made on Tuesday night in connection with illegal gold mining activities going on in the area. I am having challenges in accessing the details related to the case,” said Asst Insp Chananda.
Mines and Mining Development Provincial Director for Mining in Manicaland, Engineer Christopher Dube, also confirmed that some arrest were made in the area in connection with illegal gold mining.
Eng Dube said his office had forwarded the issue of the dispute between mining concession recipients and timber plantation owners to relevant authorities for a quick amicable solution.
“Yes, I heard about the issue of arrests on Tuesday night, but it is purely the responsibility of the police,” said Eng Dube.
Asked about reports of rampant illegal gold mining during the night at Imbeza Estate, Mr Dube said: “We are concerned with the illegal mining activities that are going on there. I have actually forwarded the issue to relevant authorities for a quick amicable solution. My thinking is that mining concession recipients and timber plantation owners must sit down and agree on the way forward.”
