MARTIN MAWAYA
SHURUGWI— Government has been urged to adopt a coordinated national response to violence by artisanal miners, following an attack at a Shurugwi gold mine that left one person dead, three injured and five excavators worth about US$1 million destroyed.
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Chengxi Chengetai Investments director Simon Karimanzira said the incident at Site Four of Wanderer Mine on Monday required a comprehensive national response to protect legitimate mining operations and safeguard investment.
He warned that attacks on mining operations could undermine efforts to formalize artisanal mining, increase gold production and attract investment into the sector.
“The Government should come up with a national, holistic approach to end this rogue violence that destroys such investment because these people are anti-development,” Karimanzira told The Midweek Watch.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed that investigations were underway following the incident on November 2, but did not disclose the identities of the deceased, injured people or suspected perpetrators.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were underway into the public violence at Chengxi Mine Site Four in the Wanderer mining area.
“More details will be released in due course as investigations continue,” he said.
Karimanzira alleged that the violence erupted after the company’s security personnel asked a group of artisanal miners to leave its private mining premises after they invaded the property.
He said the group turned violent and set five excavators on fire, adding that the incident appeared to involve organised criminal activity.
The company is concerned that the attack could be part of a wider effort to disrupt its operations, he said, calling for investigators to establish whether the perpetrators had been organised or sponsored by other interests.
“All provincial security structures are on the ground hunting for the culprits. It is a cause for concern because this appears to be well-organised crime. It is important to establish who is behind these activities,” Karimanzira said.
The attack comes against the backdrop of Chengxi’s investment efforts to help formalize artisanal mining operations and improve livelihoods in Shurugwi.
In 2025, the company committed more than US$1 million towards acquiring and developing a 120-hectare mining site at Bonza, where artisanal miners operating at Wanderer were being relocated.
The investment included mining equipment and supporting infrastructure intended to provide the miners with an organised working environment.
The equipment package included round mills, hammer mills, compressors, generators, water pumps and jaw crushers.
Chengxi also funded a US$300 000 gold milling and processing centre managed by the Shurugwi Community Empowerment Trust, with more than 5 000 small-scale miners expected to benefit.
The company has also supported local health and infrastructure projects, including the refurbishment of Shurugwi District Hospital’s mortuary and maternity ward, as well as boreholes and road rehabilitation.
Karimanzira said the company was committed to working with Government and local communities to promote responsible mining, employment creation and economic development.
He said the company sold its gold through Fidelity Gold Refinery and operated within the country’s legal and regulatory framework.
The attack has raised questions about the protection of licensed mining operations and the management of disputes between established mining companies and artisanal miners.
Karimanzira warned that failure to address such violence could undermine efforts to formalize the mining sector and weaken investor confidence.
