MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-A violent conflict between farmers and miners has left a 35-year-old Shurugwi farmer nursing serious injuries after he was struck on the head with an axe.
Tafadzwa Siyabonga sustained further injuries to his leg from an iron bar during an incident that occurred on the morning of September 7, 2024.
According to police reports, Siyabonga was with his wife when he confronted Alphonse Rushava, an artisanal miner, about the failure to backfill mine pits, which posed a danger to his livestock.
A heated argument ensued, leading Siyabonga to attack Rushava with an axe, striking him on the leg.
The confrontation escalated, prompting other miners to join the fray.
“They struck Siyabonga with an axe on the head and on the leg with an iron bar,” stated Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between farmers and miners, with the government advocating for coexistence of the two sectors as they complement each other.
Last year, the government initiated public hearings on the Mines and Mining Amendment Bill, aimed at resolving persistent disputes by establishing conflict resolution mechanisms.
The bill, gazetted in March 2023, also seeks to reconstitute the Mining Affairs Board, clarify its functions, establish a mining cadastre register, and regulate prospecting activities, while limiting mining titles to three.
Additionally, the Midlands Miners Forum (MMF) has called for a shift in mindset, emphasizing the need for responsible mining practices as the country gravitates toward achieving Vision 2030.
