04 Sep 2019

Police in Francistown have arrested four Zimbabwean nationals for illegally mining gold in Botswana.

The four, Lizwi Dlovu,33 of Kwezi village, Professor Ncube,29 also of Kwezi village, Maxwel Nyone ,28 of Bulawayo and Lewis Ndlovu of Nkayi village, were arrested by both the police and officers of the Department of Mines at Blue Jacket old gold mine near Patayamatebele on August 29.

The four appeared before Donga Customary Court facing a single count of entering Botswana through ungazetted points and they will appear again tomorrow.

The men are also expected to appear before a magistrate court  on a single count of illegal mining of gold without a license which carries a maximum penalty of a fine of P1000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or both.

Officer in-Charge (Diamond and Minerals Protection Unit) of the Botswana Police Service in Francistown, Superintendent Ookeditse Moseki said in an interview that the four were found in possession of equipment used in mining such as some three gold detectors, iron motors and pestles, three chisels and a hammer (for penetrating the hard soil, cap headlamps (for lighting inside tunnels), two manmade sieves (to sieve gold residue) and four touches.

He said other items found in their possession included  a 5kg maize meal bag, two cooking pots and utensils adding that they were an indication that this was a ‘complete laboratory and trip.’
Superintendent Moseki further stated that the four were apprehended inside the tunnel digging for the gold.

He said some security officers at Mupane gold mine had seen smoke from one of the pit at Blue Jacket old gold mine and alerted the police who responded swiftly.

He said the illegal mining had been ongoing for a long time saying similar case involving four illegal miners who were arrested at Shashe old gold mines was still before court.

Superintendent Moseki further stated that they had also managed to confiscate 98 bags and 13 bags of stones in the Matsiloje area at different times.

He said the police had not yet established the market for the gold but they suspect  that South Africa provided a lucrative market for the commodity.

“Government has taken a decision to close all the old mines and the mines are not just a threat to the security of the perpetrators but also to the economy,” he said

Superintendent Moseki said investigations into the matter were ongoing and that the four would only appear after the verification of the residue.

Meanwhile, Principal Mining Engineer in the Department of Mines in Francistown, Ms Gape Gasha explained that they had in the past found cement bags full of gold stones covered with tree branches ready for collection to unknown destination.

She explained that 98 bags were found hidden at Thekweni old pits near Matsiloje.

Ms Gasha said  government would use  close to P9 million to engage a company that would close the old gold mine pits which were found in the area posing danger to the communities of the nearby villages and settlements as well as their domesticated animals. ENDS