THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has foiled an attempt by 25 machete-wielding gang members to invade a mine in Chinhoyi, national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi has confirmed.
This comes at a time when the country is battling to contain the menace of machete-wielding gang members who have caused havoc in several mining towns across the country.
“Twenty-five illegal miners armed with iron bars, shovels, picks and machetes attempted to invade a mine in Makonde, Chinhoyi on January 26, 2020. Police moved in to disperse them using teargas and firing some warning shots,” Nyathi said.
The police have since launched Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere, which has so far netted in over 2009 machete gang members across the country, as the police seek to end illegal activities in mining towns.
The on-going operation has also seen the arrest of illegal miners in Penhalonga and Matobo, according to Nyathi.
“On January 24, 2020, four men were arrested for illegal gold panning along Mutare River, Penhalonga. A 50kg bag of gold ore was recovered. On January 25, 2020 ZRP Matobo arrested 15 people for illegal gold panning, one for possessing dagga in the on-going operation against illegal mining activities,” Nyathi said.
The High Court also this week denied bail to at least seven machete gang members, who were reportedly involved in the murder of Kadoma police constable Wonder Hokoyo in December last year.
High Court judge Amy Tsanga ruled that Lyton Panashe Tshuma, Obvious Mawire, Tonderai Musasa, Richwell Tshuma, Bornlight Mukute, Taurai Munetsi and Tinashe Demo, were not suitable candidates for bail.
The other suspect, a 14-year-old boy, has since been freed on bail.
The suspects are accused of having invaded Good Hope Mine in Kadoma on December 28 last year.
“The severity of the punishment they are likely to face in light of the crime having been committed under aggravating circumstances has been alluded to by the State and is likely to induce absconding. The strength of the State case in this instance is bolstered by the identification parade which was carried out, which unearthed two of the applicants.
“Weapons were recovered from two others. Moreover the applicants are said not to be permanently resident at the given address. It would not be in the interest of justice to release them on bail when they have tenuous ties to the place of residence,” Tsanga said, before dismissing the gang’s bail application.