MOPANE worm harvesters in Gwanda have expressed anger at police officers who have dispersed them from the fields only for the police officers to take over the harvesting.

Large numbers of people from across the country had found their way to different parts of Matabeleland South Province to harvest amacimbi in defiance of the Coronavirus lockdown order issued by President Mnangagwa.

Police dispersed mopane worm harvesters from camps they had settled in Gwanda in different areas from Colleen Bawn Tollgate, West Nicholson right up to Makado.

During this time of the year scores of people from various districts flock to Gwanda and surrounding districts in search of mopane worms to sell back home.

The harvesters claim that they are heavily disturbed in that police officers have taken control of the fields and deployed their own relatives, colleagues and friends to harvest the worms that have come out in abundance this year.

“We have been kicked out by the police and they have brought their wives, children and relatives to harvest the worms,” said one harvester.

“Those with money in South African Rands and are able to bribe the officers are allowed to go in and harvest at R100 per each bucket they come out with,” she added.

ZANU PF Senior official in the area Mr Japhet Dube confirmed the cat and mouse war between the police and the harvesters.

“Over the past few days there were so many amacimbi harvesters that were coming to our farms. But police were also active on the ground arresting them for violating lockdown regulations. So, it was a cat and mouse situation between the police and amacimbi harvesters. They were saying that they are coming from Mberengwa and some from Masvingo. We tried to raise the Covid-19 concerns with them but they said they were hungry,” he said.

In an interview with state media, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs Minister, Abednico Ncube said mopane worm harvesters continue to come from other provinces in hired trucks and were now operating in secret to evade arrest.

“As a province we have had a challenge of mopane worm harvesters and illegal gold panners that are flocking to the area.

“The mopane worm harvesters are people that are coming from other districts in hired trucks. When they first came, they were addressed by authorities who advised them to disperse and seemingly complied,” he said.

“However, they have continued with their activities despite the President’s directive of lockdown. They are now operating discreetly. Let them be warned that the long arm of the law will catch up with them. Police are conducting patrols across the entire province to identify such people and once they are caught, they will be brought to justice.”

“They just have to be patient; in December we will be having more mopane worms and hopefully by then Covid-19 will be a thing of the past.