Hundreds of artisanal miners have reportedly flocked into Matabeleland South’s Insiza District after huge deposits of gold were reportedly discovered in the area, The Standards reports. The influx of miners reported to have been hired by Zanu PF Insiza North legislator Farai Taruvinga have sparked COVID-19 infections fears in the district.
Godlwayo Community Development Trust director Nkululeko Tshuma spoke to the publication about the Makorokozas and said:
There are roadblocks all over, how do they pass through the roadblocks? Insiza North legislator Taruvinga is part of the district Covid-19 response team and he should be seen to be playing a huge role in enforcing lockdown rules but surprisingly he is at the forefront bending such rules
He is busy bringing many people to mine. At the mine site there is overcrowding. There is no protective clothing, no social distancing, absolutely nothing, what happens in the event of a Covi d-19 outbreak?
However, Farai Taruvinga dismissed Tshuma’s claims and said artisanal miners were put in groups of 10 for them to carry out mining activities while maintaining social distancing at the same time:
Those are lies. There are only groups of 10 people working there and people are working in their pegs.There is no overcrowding.
Miners are preparing to conduct screening and testing and this will be done as soon as possible,
More: The Standard