By Tapiwa Svondo
THE Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) has expressed outrage over an organised crime syndicate involved in illegal mining disguised as dam scooping, allegedly protected by law enforcement and local authorities.
The ongoing illegal alluvial gold riverbed mining activities are said to be taking place at MaDollar dams in the Sessombi area of Zhombe, Kwekwe, while also showing significant damage to the ecosystem.
In a statement, the ACT-SA chairperson Alouis Munyaradzi Chaumba said his organisation and its officials are facing threats from syndicate members, including a traditional leader, for exposing their illegal mining activities.
“This unholy confluence of corruption, patronage, and state-sanctioned impunity has effectively rendered the illegal mining activities immune to any form of legal consequence, thus perpetuating a cycle of exploitation and injustice that shows no signs of abating.
“In an audacious display of audacity and intimidation, Chief Gwesela, a member of the MaDollar dam syndicate and a traditional leader in the region, issued ominous threats against the ACT-SA regional director through WhatsApp.
“Despite the gravity of these threats, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, operating out of the Kwekwe Central Police Station, refused to accept a report of the incident from the ACT-SA director, a blatant violation of their duty to uphold the law and ensure the safety of citizens”, said ACT-SA.
demanded that all those implicated in illegal alluvial riverbed mining should be held accountable for their actions.
“Members of the syndicate conducting these illegal alluvial riverbed mining activities should be held accountable for their actions. The participation of the Zibagwe Rural District Council’s chief executive officer and Hardrock Mine should be probed, especially on the circumstances that led to the granting of the dam scooping authorisation that appears to have no applicant.
“It should also be in the public interest to expose the high profile politically exposed individual or individuals who are alleged to be part of the syndicate and providing protection to all those on the ground.
“It is alleged that the syndicate members are openly telling people that they will not stop the illegal mining activities because of the backing that they enjoy from some individuals who have political muscles” Chaumba alleged.
The ACT-SA report has been circulated to multiple government agencies, including the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the President, urging immediate action to investigate the syndicate and halt its illegal activities.
However, the lack of response from authorities has left many questioning the efficacy of oversight mechanisms in place.
“By refusing to accept ACT-SA Director’s report, police actions were in breach of the right to equal protection of the law as espoused under Section 56 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013. Such actions are out of step with the principles of democratic policing. ACT-SA remains worried that most local police details continue to put themselves in a shameful position and also serving as enablers of corruption and impunity.
“Despite the widespread dissemination of ACT-SA’s report to relevant authorities, the alluvial riverbed mining operations, which have been clearly demonstrated to be illegal and malevolent in nature, have continued to flourish, evading any semblance of justice and oversight.
“Compounding this malfeasance are reports that the Chinese participants in this clandestine enterprise have, emboldened by their seeming impunity, further entrenched their presence at the MaDollar dam site, reinforcing their operations with additional equipment,” said the watchdog.
ACT-SA reiterated the urgency of the matter and demanded swift and decisive action by relevant authorities, to investigate the issuance of dam scooping authorisations, halt illegal mining, and hold perpetrators accountable.
“Investigation of the process used by Zibagwe Rural District Council to issue the dam scooping authorisation; Immediate intervention to halt the destructive tide of illicit mining at MaDollar dams; Confiscation and forfeiture of the equipment to the state and to victims in the spirit of decisive justice.
“Parties involved must be held accountable for their actions and forced to bear the costs of the rehabilitation efforts that will be required to restore MaDollar dams to their former glory; The parties responsible for the environmental travesty must be compelled to compensate affected farmers for their financial woes, emanating from the destroyed dams in order to deliver a measure of justice…”
The anti-graft body also demands that perpetrators, masquerading under the guise of legitimate dam scooping, must be brought to account for their misdeeds.
“The government, as the guardian of law and order, must launch a thorough investigation into the activities of all parties implicated in this affair, subjecting them to the full brunt of the legal system; The guardians of the law should launch a comprehensive inquiry into Chief Gwesela’s alleged abuse of power, office and authority.”
The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and other authorities were called upon to probe involvement of Chinese in the illegal alluvial river-bed mining activities at MaDollar dams.
“Relevant authorities should launch thorough and exhaustive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mining activities at MaDollar dams,” the anti-corruption body said.