Masvingo — Hundreds of "fortune seekers" have invaded Zouma resettlement area in Gutu following the rediscovery of alluvial gold at a disused mine -- raising fears of massive land degradation and proliferation of illegal panning.
Fears abound that the latest gold rush in Gutu could ignite full-scale illegal panning by thousands of unemployed youths in scenes reminiscent of the infamous Chiadzwa diamond mining in Marange.
The Zouma area already has hundreds of illegal miners from all parts of the country, scrounging for gold after some resettled farmers accidentally stumbled upon gold late last month.
Illegal gold mining in the Zouma area started at the beginning of land reform, but abruptly stopped after all the gold in the first find was mined out.
However, in the latest gold rush, villagers, communal farmers, resettled farmers and even teachers and their pupils, reportedly have joined in the hunt for newly discovered treasure -- raising fears of massive land degradation in the area.
Sources said on Saturday that the proliferation of illegal mining had heavily scarred the environment in the Zouma area.
"There is indeed a gold rush in the area and people from all walks of life are joining in the gold craze after the discovery of the mineral in the area by some resettled farmers.
"This has indeed changed the face of the area as scores of illegal miners from all over the province have joined in damaging our environment," said Mr Lovemore Matuke, the former House of Assembly Member for Gutu North.
Masvingo police spokesman Inspector Phibion Nyambo yesterday said they were still investigating to establish the full extent of the reported illegal mining in the area.
"We are investigating reports that the area (Zouma) has been invaded by illegal panners, but as police, if there is such a development we will definitely move into the area to stop the practice. We will give a full report once we complete our investigations," said Insp Nyambo.
Masvingo acting Mining Commissioner Mr Rugoyi Mutikizizi was not available for comment yesterday as he was said to be attending a family bereavement.
However, sources in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development said plans were underway to deploy a team to the area to assess the extent of the gold deposits discovered in the area.
Reports of gold discovery in Gutu have already taken the provincial capital of Masvingo by storm, with many unemployed youths said to be showing keen interest to descend on the area in search of fortune following the tightening of security at Chiadzwa diamond fields.
Government last year was forced to deploy security forces in the Chiadzwa area in Manicaland after thousands of illegal panners descended on the diamond fields to extract the precious mineral that was being smuggled out of the country through a chain of middlemen -- robbing the country of more than US$1,2 billion in potential foreign currency earnings on monthly basis.
This is not the first time that Masvingo has experienced a gold rush as the Charumbira area in the province had to be cordoned-off by police after the discovery of gold nuggets that were reportedly exposed from the earth after a heavy storm.
Some illegal gold miners in Zouma have vowed to continue with the illegal mining, saying they had no other source of livelihood.
The daring panners added that after a heavy Government clampdown on illegal mining at Chiadzwa, they had to look for somewhere else to make a fortune
"We have no option except to continue with our trade. Police came here recently and chased away some of us, but this is our only means of livelihood after life at Chiadzwa became tough. I have seen it all since I have been to Chiadzwa searching for diamonds, to Chimanimani looking for gold and even Shurugwi where I gained experience in illegal mining activities," said Tichaona Kondo of Gutu.
Some of the illegal miners -- who have since erected makeshift tents for accommodation at the farm -- said they were not scared of descending into some of the deep shafts they had dug in search of gold.
They boasted that they had acquired a lot of experience from their adventures at Chiadzwa, Chimanimani and Shurugwi.
Kondo, however, said their biggest worry was that the area might continue to be flooded by more illegal miners, which might force Government to crack down on them again.
Other miners also claimed that some "big fish" were rushing to get some small-scale mining licences from Government after the discovery of gold at Zouma, which is owned by a white commercial farmer.
Most resettled farmers in the area who were allocated land under the A2 model were reportedly contemplating quitting agriculture to venture into small-scale mining.
