Harare Correspondent
A recent investigation by the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) has revealed that the rampant plunder of gold in Zimbabwe’s Eastern Districts is being facilitated by corrupt officials within government agencies.
These individuals are reportedly acting as informants for notorious gold cartels, undermining efforts to combat illegal mining activities.
The CRD’s report, titled “Is the Government Shielding Criminal Mining Syndicates from Accountability in Penhalonga?”, highlights how planned raids against these syndicates have repeatedly failed due to insider information being leaked to the criminals.
This has allowed the syndicates to evade capture by moving their equipment before security forces can act. The investigation estimates that this ongoing illegal activity has cost the Eastern Districts over US$554 million over the past four years.
The report specifically points to Redwing Mine in Penhalonga as a hotspot for illegal mining, particularly after a South African tycoon withdrew from the area in 2020, leading to a surge in corruption and illicit activities.
The CRD expressed concern that state security operations have not effectively targeted these criminal syndicates, allowing them to operate with impunity.
The illegal mining activities have led to severe environmental degradation, including significant siltation of the Mutare River, which poses a risk of collapse for the Mutare Bridge. As the rainy season approaches, the CRD warns that residents in low-lying areas are at risk of flooding due to blocked water flow caused by mining debris. Additionally, the syndicates have left behind unsecured pits filled with stagnant water, creating breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes and increasing the risk of drowning for local communities.
The report indicates that Zimbabwe is losing approximately US$1.8 billion annually in gold revenue due to smuggling and illegal mining. Despite a ban on riverbed mining announced in August, illegal operations have continued unabated.
The number of illegal processing facilities, such as hammer mills and cyanidation tanks, has surged, further exacerbating the situation.
The findings of the CRD underscore a troubling nexus of corruption, environmental destruction, and economic loss in Zimbabwe’s gold mining sector.
The lack of effective government action to address these issues raises serious concerns about accountability and the protection of both natural resources and local communities. As the situation deteriorates, urgent measures are needed to restore integrity and oversight in the mining industry.
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