HARARE, Apr. 16 (NewsDay Live) – The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has condemned a recent shooting at Sino Africa Huijin Mine along Old Mutare Road, describing it as part of a disturbing pattern of violence in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
In a statement, CNRG said the April 12 incident involved an unarmed artisanal miner who was shot and seriously injured by mine security personnel. The organisation alleges the miner was fleeing at the time, raising concerns over the use of excessive force.
Manicaland police spokesperson Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the shooting, saying it occurred after security guards fired warning shots to disperse a group of suspected illegal miners. He said the guards acted in self-defence.
However, CNRG disputes this account, arguing that preliminary evidence suggests the victim posed no immediate threat. It says the incident reflects a broader pattern of abuse, corruption and exploitation at the mine.
According to the watchdog, artisanal miners are often forced to pay bribes—sometimes as little as US$10—to access ore, with those who refuse allegedly facing violence, including beatings and gunfire. It also cited allegations of extortion involving larger sums.
CNRG further claims some security personnel collude with illegal miners, controlling access to the site while subjecting local communities, particularly youths, to abuse.
The organisation said the shooting is not isolated, pointing to at least three similar incidents at the same mine in the past five years. In April 2025, an artisanal miner, Alfred Dodzo, was fatally shot under what it described as excessive circumstances. Earlier, in January, a mine worker, Taurai Dozva, was found dead on duty under unclear conditions.
CNRG also cited comparable incidents nationwide, including fatal shootings in Mutoko and Filabusi, as well as alleged assaults in the Marange diamond fields.
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“These incidents are not isolated—they reflect a deeply entrenched pattern where violence is routinely used to control access to mineral resources,” the organisation said.
It warned that the continued use of live ammunition against civilians points to a governance crisis in Zimbabwe’s extractive sector, where private security—and at times state actors—operate with impunity.
CNRG called for an independent and transparent investigation into the shooting, accountability for those responsible, an end to the use of lethal force where suspects can be apprehended, and a review of security protocols in mining areas.
It also urged stronger protection for artisanal miners and local communities, alongside urgent reforms to mining laws to prioritise human rights and transparency.
“Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth must not come at the cost of human life,” the organisation said, calling on authorities to uphold their constitutional duty to protect citizens.
