THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC)'s parks section last year arrested about 180 illegal gold panners around the city and its water catchment area in Matabeleland South.
This is revealed in the latest council’s parks section monthly report that was released last week.
It said the housing and community services department reported in its January 15 report focusing on environmental issues including land degradation and water catchment areas that routine patrols were conducted around water catchment areas by the rangers and the police from Esigodini.
“During these patrols, two illegal gold panners were arrested and handed over to Esigodini Court for prosecution. A total of 59 tools including one water pump were confiscated and handed over,” the report said.
“This brought the total to 184 illegal gold panners arrested from January to December 2024. Sixty-five surveillance patrols were conducted during December bringing the total number to 308 as of December 2024.”
On the Greater Bulawayo illegal mining, sand poaching and wood harvesting, council said routine and extended patrols were conducted citywide and during the patrols seven trucks were impounded for ferrying sand extracted from the areas.
“A total of 57 tickets were issued for various offences, 35 of them were paid for with the sum of US$3 581,08 realised and 12 tickets were outstanding valued at US$5 692,59,” the report said.
“In addition eight scotchcarts and two wheelbarrows were confiscated for contravening the city’s bylaws. Surveillance patrols on illegal panning were conducted during the course of the month.
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“It has been observed that there is a great reduction in illegal gold panning around the city especially at Khumalo pit, Emhlangeni and other hotspots, though a new illegal site is sprouting in Parklands. A total of 50 surveillance patrols were conducted.”
On awareness campaign meetings, council reported that during the month under review the lands inspectorate conducted two radio dialogues on Skyz-Metro FM mainly on sand and wood poaching.
It, however, expressed concern over the sale of pit sand, adding that a total of 31 trucks were recorded at the two council sites with only US$350 having been realised.
The reports came after Bulawayo mayor David Coltart recently expressed concern that illegal gold panning along the rivers in the city’s catchment areas was to blame for most of the city’s supply dams' failure to record significant inflows during the heavy downpours that the country received in January this year.
He said the mining activities had seen very deep pits being dug along the rivers thereby hindering the flowing of water into the supply dams.
