ZANU PF members clashed in Goromonzi North on Wednesday after a group of party youths invaded Lonely Park Farm, owned by Antony Retzlarf.
According to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200036234/gunshots-as-zanu-pf-youths-fight-over-gold-claim">NewsDay</a>, they demanded to be included in gold mining activities following the recent discovery of gold deposits on the farm.
The youths, led by ZANU PF leaders from Vhuta Ward 13, accused Pardon Chibamu, the party’s provincial youth league secretary for education, of secretly taking over the gold claim they had discovered as villagers.
During the disturbance, the youths sang war songs and waved placards while attacking Chibamu and damaging his Toyota Fortuner vehicle.
They also sent a letter to Daniel Garwe, the ZANU PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, on December 10, protesting Chibamu’s takeover of the mine.
The letter was signed by local ZANU PF leaders, including area councillor Peter Million. Part of the letter reads:
<blockquote>
We hereby (submit) a complaint to your respective office against the offer of mine site given to Pardon Chibamu by the farmer Antony Retzlarf.
The Vhuta community discovered a gold belt at Lonely Park Farm and when it got to the ears of Pardon Chibamu, he misled Mr Retzlarf and negotiated to get the place using his party muscle (sic).
</blockquote>
Ceylon Gotora, the villagers’ secretary, confirmed the incident to NewsDay on Friday, saying gunshots had been fired at the site. Said Gotora:
<blockquote>
We wrote a letter to the province, and it was delivered, but we are yet to get a response. Some gunshots were fired on the day and four villagers were arrested over the issue. They are appearing in court today (yesterday).
</blockquote>
Chibamu asserted that he was the rightful owner of the mine and dismissed claims from others who argued that it did not belong to ZANU PF. He said:
<blockquote>
I am the legitimate owner of the mine, I have the required documents to prove.
There are people who are just dragging the name of the party into the mud.
Those who demonstrated at the mine are not even ZANU PF people. ZANU PF people are disciplined.
People should learn to follow and respect the processes. We are legally mining at the area. Mining is all about paperwork.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

ZANU PF members fought over a gold claim at a farm. They wanted to mine for gold after finding deposits. Some members accused a leader of taking the claim. They sang songs, damaged a car, and sent a letter to complain. Gunshots were fired, and four villagers were arrested. The leader said he had the right to the mine and had the right documents. He said the troublemakers were not real ZANU PF members. The leader said mining is about following rules and paperwork.

ZANU PF Youths Clash Over Gold Claim, Gunshots Fired

A relative of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, identified as Albert Garikai Mnangagwa, is accused of terrorising villagers in Mashonaland West Province over gold mining claims.
Sources told <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/president-mnangagwas-relative-terrorizes-villagers-grabs-gold-mine-sparking-solo-protest/">NewZimbabwe.com</a> on Sunday that Albert, along with a group of armed men, descended on a lucrative gold mine project in Makonde district, designated for ZANU PF youths, and began looting the precious mineral.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Marian Chombo, ZANU PF Provincial Chairperson Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, provincial police officials, and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development officials have reportedly been alerted to the situation.
It is alleged that unidentified gunmen have been patrolling the area to intimidate the local youths, who are organizing to resist the takeover of the mine.
One affected youth, who wished to remain anonymous, staged a solo protest in Makonde over the weekend, displaying placards with various messages of resistance. One of the placards was written:
<blockquote>
Gari A. Mnangagwa get out of Makonde, bvisa vanhu vako nepfuti dzako hatidi hondo. Usatipambe maini yema youth eMakonde. Wanyanya wajaira kupamba (Get out of Makonde, remove your people and your guns, we don’t want war. Don’t grab youths’ mine. You have gone rogue, and this is intolerable).
</blockquote>
In another poster, the protester appealed to top ZANU PF officials, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his counterpart, Kembo Mohadi, and the ZANU PF national chairman, urging them to intervene and come to the aid of the villagers in Makonde. He said:
<blockquote>
Vakuru vedu vanoremekedzwa, baba VP vaChiwenga, baba VP vaMohadi, amai vaMuchinguri, tinunureiwo in Makonde, isu ma youths against Gari A. Mnangagwa and his brutal team (Respected elders, Vice President Chiwenga, Vice President Mohadi, and Mrs Muchinguri, please save us in Makonde. We, the youths, are against Gari A. Mnangagwa and his brutal team). 
</blockquote>
NewZimbabwe.com reported that attempts to obtain comments from police and Ministry of Mines officials were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Albert Garikai Mnangagwa, who is related to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is being accused of scaring people in Mashonaland West Province over a gold mining situation. He and some armed men took over a gold mine in Makonde district meant for ZANU PF youths. The local youths are scared because of these gunmen, and one person even protested alone. The protester asked top officials in ZANU PF to help them against Albert Mnangagwa and his group. Despite this, the police and Ministry of Mines officials have not commented on the issue yet.

Mnangagwa’s Relative Linked To Violent Gold Mine Takeover In Makonde

A former ZANU PF legislator has reportedly breached a court order after he failed to report to Connemara prison as ruled by the High Court.
Vongai Mupereri, former MP for Mbizo, allegedly masterminded the illegal invasion of Gaika Gold Mine in Kwekwe by machete-wielding youths.
A Zim Morning Post report claims that its sources revealed that Mupereri is moving around freely and plotting to retake the mine in contravention of a court order. Said the source:
<blockquote>On Saturday, they held a meeting at the party (ZANU PF) offices where the main agenda was the issue of retaking control of the mine.
The youths were being incited to forcefully resume illegal mining operations but a voice of reason among the senior officials advised them that they face arrest should they attempt to reinvade the mine.
Mupereri then went to Gweru on the same day trying to seek support from senior politicians and Joint Operations Command (JOC) but it was all in vain. They advised him to uphold the rule of law.</blockquote>
The mine was last week sealed off by heavily armed members from the military and police force but not before illegal invaders transported tonnes of ore to surrounding mills. The mills are thought to be owned by powerful ZANU PF politicians from the ruling ZANU PF party.
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More: <a href="https://zimmorningpost.com/gaika-mine-eviction-latest-zanu-pf-stalwart-mupereri-ignore-court-orderplots-re-invasion/">Zim Morning Post</a>

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