Story by Thubelihle Mhodi
BULAWAYO’S Parklands and Mahatshula suburbs have become hotspots for illegal gold panners who are terrorising residents and students from nearby tertiary institutions through gang-related violence and armed robberies.
The area adjacent to the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), along Cecil Avenue, has effectively become a no-go zone. Once known for sand extraction authorised by the Bulawayo City Council, the location has now devolved into a haven for violent gold panners.
“We are now scared to move around this place, and we are scared for our wives and girl children to move around this place because it is not safe anymore. People are mugged and attacked here, especially students from NUST lose their valuables,” a male resident said.
“This place is no longer safe, especially at night. These illegal miners roam around houses carrying knives and machetes,” a resident said.
Residents from suburbs which include Parklands, Mahatshula and Killarney no longer feel safe due to these illegal gold panners prowling their neighbourhoods.
“These illegal miners are always violence making people around this community live in fear and threatened. I have come across a lot of people with complains of being mugged losing their valuables,” a community member said.
“Our children are now scared to go to the university because of the crime and attacks that happens in that place almost on a daily basis,” a parent said.
Parklands Ward 3 Councillor, Mxolisi Mahlangu noted the need to restore order and peace in the affected areas.
“We are aware that those illegal miners are causing a chaos in many parts of Bulawayo as they are always associated with noise and violence, therefore, the police have managed to capture some of those masterminds who are causing chaos in that place,” he said.
Meanwhile, some of the machete-wielding gangs have been arrested.
“We have apprehended three gangs, killing and attacking people taking their properties in different parts of Bulawayo. As the police, we are working to bring back sanity in different parts of Bulawayo. We encourage Parklands and Killarney residents to report such cases to let the police do their job,” Bulawayo Acting Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said.
Initially established by the Bulawayo City Council to supply sand, these pits have become gold-hunting spots by the illegal gold panners.
