Police in Chinhoyi clashed with artisanal miners at Eldorado gold mine last week leaving a trail of destruction and injuring women and children in the process.
NUNURAI JENA
The police spent the better part of the day engaged in running battles with artisanal miners, better known as makorokoza, throwing teargas at women and children in an effort to smoke out the miners from their living quarters.
Benedict Bhisitari was allegedly beaten all over the body while attending a funeral at the compound.
“The police came unannounced at the funeral and ordered the people to hand over to them all the artisanal miners hidden in the houses, but when we told them that they should go to the mine they started beating everyone,” said Bhisitari.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi refused to comment, referring the issue to his junior, Clemence Mabgweazara, who insisted that he could not comment since he had furnished his superiors with all the relevant information.
