Illegal Miner murdered at Jumbo Mine
While Mashonaland Central Province Minister of State Senator Monica Mavhunga has been calling for the reopening of Mazowe Gold Mine to reduce issues of illegal mining, gold smuggling and unemployment in Mazowe, last week an illegal miner was killed by a rival gang for the control of the goldfields.
Anerudo Mapuranga
Senator Mavhunga was quoted by this publication saying, the reopening of Mazowe Gold Mine was of importance because many illegal miners were dying while seeking a decent living.
Speaking through its official Twitter handle the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said a man named Avon was stabbed to death with an unidentified sharp object on the thigh by members of a rival group while illegally mining gold.
“Police in Mazowe are investigating a case of murder which occurred on 17/09/22 at Jumbo Mine Mazowe. The victim, only identified as Avon, was stabbed to death with an unidentified sharp object on the thigh by members of a rival group while illegally mining gold,” the Police said.
The vast Mazowe gold fields have several mines, with the parent one being Mazowe Mine owned by Metallon Corporation Ltd.
Mazowe Mine comprises Jumbo Mine but is currently under care and maintenance after Metallon Corporation was forced to close its mines in 2018 due to “unsustainable costs of running them without proper compensation for its proceeds from the government of Zimbabwe.”
The mine has 247 claims covering 2 939 hectares.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector, especially the extraction of gold, has lately been characterised by illicit leakages of gold and it is believed the establishment of gold centres could help restrict obscure movement of the yellow metal. The gold sector carries a huge potential for the Zimbabwean economy with small-scale miners producing about 60 per cent of gold receipts which has necessitated consistent efforts to support their production.