700 injured in gold mining wars, machete fights get deadlier

More than 700 Makorokoza gold miners have been seriously injured in Shurugwi’s ensued machete wars that frequent Shurugwi gold fields, zwnews has reported.

According to statistics gathered from an impeccable source at Shurugwi District Hospital, 732 artisanal miners were injured between the period January 2016 and January 2017.

Members of the police force argue that 96% of the machete assaults have not been reported hence making it impossible for the police to compile the number of machete war victims.

Commenting on the violence that mares Shurugwi mining gold fields Shurugwi Chairperson for Small Scale Miners Mr Isaac Chibendera bemoaned the violent situation prevailing at wanderer Mines.

“The situation surrounding Machete wars at wanderer gold field is a cause for concern, I got more than 500 artisanal miners injured last year only at the mine, and most of the cases have not been reported to the police.

“The artisanal miners do not report the violence perpetuated against them , instead they take the law into their hands by taking revenge on their persecutors hence skyrocketing the number of people injured by machetes at the mine every month, ”said concerned Chibendera

Chibendera also requested police intervention to end the rampant maiming of artisanal miners during the much brutal machete wars.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police must take action and arrest anyone found in possession of a machete, the mining profession does not require any weapon, and artisanal miners only use pick and shovels those found with machetes must face the long arm of the law.”

In separate interviews, machete war victims disclosed that they would not report their cases to the police as they fear for their lives.

“I was axed three times, twice on the head and once on my hand by a mafia group nicknamed Chaftan, I could not report the matter to the police since they threatened to kill me if I did.

“As a way to get medical assistance without a police report I lied and told the medical staff that I had a mine accident,” said an artisanal miner who identified himself as Conwell Ncube. zwnews