Innocent vendors arrested as crackdown on gold panners intensifies

By Tererai Karimakwenda
13 December 2006

Many people in the Midlands and Mashonaland Central are reported to be missing as police continue to arrest suspected illegal gold panners. The Shamva and Bindura areas are reported to the worst affected by the so-called Operation Chikorokoza Chapera which the government claims is meant to stop those who are damaging the environment.

But our correspondent Simon Muchemwa said the police are arresting innocent people, including women who sell food and other basic products near the mining areas. The police are also alleged to be stealing gold from small scale panners who they threaten with arrest if they resist.

Many fear their relatives are in detention after failing to make contact for several days. Muchemwa said no information has been made available by the police. He said police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka appeared on state television Thursday morning saying all small scale gold panners were being arrested because they are illegal and are damaging the environment. But he said nothing of the numbers that had been detained so far. Reports suggest it could be as many as 9,000.