Alarm raised as ZRP cops make a fortune in Zimbabwe gold rush

A Zimbabwe mines minister has expressed shock and concern over the manner in which Zimbabwe police are making money, double dealing in gold ore business in Midlands province.

This comes after Silobela people appealed to higher authority to deal with the police officers who are making a lot from mining by taking sides in gold wars for kickbacks and chasing away gold panners in case of gold rushes, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Walter Chidhakwa, said strong decisions would be made against corrupt police officers.

Speaking during a ministerial visit to Peace Mine Turtle 54 in Silobela on Friday, Minister Chidhakwa said together with the Minister of Home Affairs, Ignatius Chombo they had received reports of police allegedly engaging in corrupt mining activities in the province.

Minister Chidhakwa said he was pained that the police were corrupt when they should be taking the leading role in seeing to it that procedure is followed so that the Government benefits from the mineral resources in the province.

“I’m pained that we hear that the police are corrupt, that they are taking sides for kickbacks, at times mining illegally. They are taking ore from mines. We will expose you, we are watching you. We worked well with the police in Marange diamond fields and order was restored and we should be doing the same here,” he charged.

Minister Chidhakwa said he had spoken to the Commissioner General of Police, Dr Augustine Chihuri with regard to the alleged corrupt activities by the police especially in Silobela area.

“We want peace here, the children and mothers must have confidence in the police force, and we don’t want indiscipline. I spoke to Cde Chihuri, we know what is happening, we have great respect for the police force, we have had good experiences in Marange where you exemplified and the world knows what a great police force we have. That respect should also come here in Silobela, if you are not right, we will remove you, and we are taking command,” he said.

Silobela villagers led by their four chiefs; Ruya, Govo, Malisa and Sigodo raised concerns about the conduct by some rogue police officers.

The ministerial delegation led by Minister Chidhakwa had gone to Peace Mine to bring normalcy after the closure of the mine in February.

The community demanded the ouster of the then chairperson Mr Arthur Nkiwane who was accused of working with the police to loot gold at the expense of the community.