A victim of cyclone Idai has alleged that whites have taken over their land following the discovery of gold in cyclone Idai hit areas of Chimanimani.

Cephas Maipa from Chewechewe, Chimanimani East at the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe said the gold rush has invited “escavators” run by unidentified white people who are now denying the locals access to their land.

He said:

“Cyclone Idai destroyed our livelihoods. We are surviving from donations. There is a lot of gold. Whites are here with their escavators and they have taken over our land. They are mining gold as we speak. They have told us that we are no longer allowed access to our land because they are saying they want to mine.

Our crops were destroyed by the cyclone and now they are here taking over our land for gold. Nothing has been communicated to us by the village head, the chief or even government.

The escavators are here and they are already mining. My wife’s farm has been reduced to holes as they just mine and leave. They come with their people who work with them. They have taken over our sources of drinking water and now they are going after the only river that we have left. We do not know how we are going to survive. The whole setting clearly excludes us as local. We are suffering and only relying on donor aid, but it is not enough. We need our land back so that we are able to look after our families.”