Eight Arrested After Running Secret Illegal Mine In Marlborough For Four Years
Eight men have been arrested after police uncovered an illegal mining operation in Marlborough, Harare, where suspects dug a 10-metre-deep shaft and carried out underground mining and blasting activities in the middle of a residential neighbourhood.
Investigators believe the operation had been running undetected since 2022, with tonnes of ore reportedly extracted over the past four years before authorities moved in on Sunday.
Also Read: Government Bans Mining and Blasting at Heritage Sites
Safety Fears After Underground Excavations
The discovery has sparked concerns about the safety of nearby homes and residents, amid fears that underground excavations and blasting may have weakened the area’s geological stability and posed a serious risk to surrounding properties.
The case has also renewed attention on the growing problem of illegal mining, particularly in places never intended for mineral extraction.
Government Distances Itself From Residential Mining
Speaking during the opening of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development’s 2026 Mid-Term Performance Review and Second Half Reset Workshop in Kadoma, Mines Minister Polite Kambamura stressed that his ministry does not approve mining activities in urban residential areas.
He said authorities had observed an increase in people secretly carrying out mining operations from their homes, including drilling and blasting, resulting in environmental destruction.
Kambamura urged government institutions to work together to identify and stop illegal mining operations before they endanger more communities.
Call For Stronger Crackdown
The minister said illegal mining continues to claim lives, damage the environment and destroy property, making it necessary for all relevant agencies to intensify enforcement efforts.
He pointed to the recent Penhalonga tragedy in Manicaland, where eight illegal miners died after an underground shaft collapsed. The miners had reportedly been accessing concealed tunnels through a makeshift tuckshop built to disguise the operation.
Mining Sector Records Strong Export Earnings
Despite the challenges posed by illegal mining, Kambamura said Zimbabwe’s mining industry generated approximately US$5.73 billion in mineral export earnings during the first half of 2026.
Of that total, around US$2.532 billion was marketed through the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, while gold exports contributed about US$3.2 billion, highlighting the sector’s continued importance to the country’s economy.
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