Machetes will be banned in gold-rich areas and those carrying them will be jailed under new laws being crafted by the Government.

This follows a spate of violent crimes by machete-wielding artisanal miners.
Besides the ban and mandatory jail terms, the Government is considering setting up special courts to ensure such cases are dealt with quickly and effectively.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told The Herald last week that stakeholders should join the fight against machete violence.

“As Government, we are extremely disturbed by the illegal activities of artisanal miners who continuously terrorise people using machetes,” he said.

“Our cultural values and ethos are at stake and it is every stakeholder’s mandate to work towards bringing sanity into the country.

“I call for an intertwined relationship between the ZRP, Judicial Service Commission, prosecuting authorities, mining authorities and other stakeholders to thwart their criminal activities.”

Minister Ziyambi said the Government was “in the process” of coming up with an instrument that will give mandatory jail sentences to those that are found with the machetes in those districts designated as risky by police. – State media/Herald