ZANU-PF supporters who were encouraged to invade a goldfield in Bindura (Kitsiyatota) during First Lady Grace Mugabe’s meet-the-people rallies ahead of the controversial Zanu-PF congress last December were given a three-day notice on Monday to leave the area, Zimbabwe Independent reported.

Zanu-PF sources said this week the provincial joint operation command (Joc) chaired by Provincial Affairs minister Martin Dinha resolved to force the artisanal miners out of the goldfields by Thursday.

“In its disaster management committee meeting Joc was advised by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) to push for the removal of the gold panners who have left a trail of environmental destruction,” a source said.

Sources also said riot police would be called in if the miners refuse to leave.

The eviction of artisanal miners also comes against the backdrop of the on-going vendors’ saga where Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, backed by Harare’s Joc, also issued an ultimatum for vendors to leave the city centre by today. Source: independent