Miners cry foul over gold seizures by RBZ

Miners cry foul over gold seizures by RBZ

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By Lebo Nkatazo

A COMPANY owned by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will come under investigation for breaking the Mines and Minerals Act over the seizure of gold from small scale miners, a government official said.

The official spoke as several small scale miners narrated stories of improper conduct by Carslone Private Limited in evidence to a parliamentary committee hearing on the government’s on-going operation Chikorokoza Chapera.

At least 28 000 people have been arrested under the operation which the government says is aimed at reversing the illegal plundering of the country's mineral resources by panners.

One miner wept while describing police brutality to MPs last Friday. She said her company was closed down by the police on grounds that she was violating the Environment Management Act.

Within weeks, the company had been re-opened and parcelled out to gold panners who go on to hand over the proceeds to the RBZ-owned Carslone Private Limited.

Titus Nyatanga, a director in the Ministry of Mines, told lawmakers: “Carslone is a company formed by the RBZ to carry out mining activities. However, its association with former members of the panners' association is something that needs to be investigated. All that warrants an investigation.”

Nyatanga also said police officers who were assaulting the miners would be brought to book.

Arnold Madhura of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation said in the Midlands province, registered small-scale miners were being forced to close their businesses.

Members of the now disbanded Zimbabwe Panners' Association were being recruited to go on their mines on behalf of Carslone Private Limited, he said.

This was supported by another small-scale miner, Misheck Paradzai, who appeared before the same committee.

Wonder Chanesta of the Gold Miners Association said: “Members of Carslone are living in hotels. If you go to the Ministry of Mines and ask (about the company’s operations) they say they don’t know.”

Jane Jabulani, another small-scale miner, said she was a Zanu PF supporter but the operation was “poisoning her mind”.

“I am a widow and I am looking after five children but they are closing my
mine. If they come back again, I will axe them…we are going towards an election. Varikutivhiringidza brain so that we say president akashata.”
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