Two arrested while digging for gold on rail tracks

Zim Now Writer

Two illegal miners were arrested digging for gold on railway tracks at Jumbo Siding, Mazowe, the National Railways of Zimbabwe has said.

Jonasi Johane of Centenary and Jeffrey Kadzengere of Chitungwiza had dug a three-metre deep pit by the time of their arrest.

“They were handed over to Mazowe police,” NRZ wrote on X wall.

In an interview with Zim Now, NRZ Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations Manager, Andrew Kunambura said there was a spike in cases of illegal gold mining along the Harare-Bindura railway line, particularly Mazowe and Kitsiyatota as you approach Bindura.

“The problem is mainly caused by illegal gold miners who are digging either right within the tracks or in proximity to the railway line which is illegal under the Railways Act.

“In terms of that law any person or persons caught digging within the tracks or proximity to the tracks will be arrested and charged under the Act.

“The Law states that any such persons can face up to ten years in person for vandalising this critical national infrastructure. There is a mistaken belief among some of these illegal miners that there is gold in the concrete stones on railway lines, they are used to stabilise the railway line so when they are removed the line will remain suspended and dangerous and therefore can’t run trains on that line.

“It compromises economic development because, particularly on that line, we are moving critical agricultural inputs like seed and fertilisers to this key agriculture area so, we are saying anyone who has information on people who are digging on tracks must report to our Loss Control and Security branch or even they can go and report to the nearest police station.

Kunambura said this is also happening in other areas such as Kwekwe, Harare-Lion’s Den, Shurugwi, Mapinga and other areas.

“We want to thank efforts that we are witnessing from our Loss Control branch, the police as well as the courts for imposing harsh sanctions on these criminals that are vandalising the key railway infrastructure. We are not going to rest until the last vandals are arrested and prosecuted.”

In another incident, Denzel Chari of Stoneridge, Harare and Proud Katsande of Mutoko were arrested on October 28 for illegally mining on reserved NRZ land, also at Jumbo Siding in Mazowe.

The two were handed over to Mazowe police. They appeared in court and were remanded to November tomorrow.