140 illegal miners were arrested across the country yesterday bringing the total of those taken into custody since the commencement of operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere/Isitsheketsha Kasiphele and no to machete gangs to 25 795.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Through their official Twitter handle the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) announced that on 26 July 2021, they arrested 140 people who were involved in illegal mining activities across the country.
Last year 57 000 illegal gold miners, machete gangs and other criminal elements in the mining communities were arrested countrywide under the same operation.
According to Police spokesperson Asst-Comm Paul Nyathi, the operation is ongoing and they had covered all the provinces and those that resist risk being arrested and face deterrent sentences as the police are in constant contact with the judiciary.
Last year, the police restored order in mining areas after taking the machete gangs head-on, arresting large numbers of people and thwarting a wave of violence that threatened to disturb gold mining and consequently deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR).
Most of those arrested were fined since there was no evidence they had committed other criminal offences.
Those on the wanted list were sent to court for prosecution, facing various offences.
https://twitter.com/PoliceZimbabwe/status/1420022577259585554
