The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has intensified its operations in Mazowe and issued a strong warning to miners who are not allowed. The government, via the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, has directly ordered the police to force all unregistered miners to leave the Mazowe Mine Lease 35 area by July 13.
“The Government has recently issued an eviction notice and order targeting all unlawful occupiers engaging in mining, land destruction, and vegetation activities, as well as those participating in criminal crimes within Mazowe Mine Lease 35,” ZRP Commissioner Paul Nyathi declared with conviction. Anyone who disobeys this order will be arrested by the police.” This declaration emphasizes the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order and defending the legal mining industry from illegitimate intrusions.
The eviction notice, effective from July 6 to July 13, encompasses regions adjacent to ZRP Mazowe up to the Concession area, aiming to clear out the illegal miners who have increasingly become a problem for the legitimate operations and the environment. This action follows a series of struggles faced by Metallon Corporation, the parent company of the Mazowe Mine, which has been hindered in its efforts to resume regular mining activities due to the persistent presence of illegal miners.
Metallon Corporation has faced numerous operational disruptions at Mazowe Mine. Initially, in September 2018, operations were halted due to financial constraints and other challenges. The situation worsened in 2019 when informal miners trespassed onto the mine’s property, leading to a second cessation of operations due to safety concerns. These illegal intrusions not only jeopardized the safety of legitimate mining operations but also posed significant environmental risks, including land degradation and deforestation.
However, in a positive turn of events earlier this year, the mine announced the restart of its underground mining operations, which had been on pause since the challenges began in 2019. This restart is critical for the economic stability of the area and the overall health of Zimbabwe’s mining industry, which relies heavily on the lawful extraction of resources.
The Zimbabwean authorities’ efforts to control the mining industry, which is essential to the nation’s economy, include a crackdown on illicit miners. In addition to causing financial losses and environmental damage, illegal mining puts at risk the region’s security and rule of law.
The ZRP is ready to take all necessary steps to enforce the eviction notice as the deadline draws near. This includes the possibility of arresting those who disobey orders from the government. Along with removing the illegal miners, the region needs to be restored in order to stop more environmental harm and allow for the uninterrupted operation of licensed mining operations.
