Illegal miners back off invaded school

Brenna Matendere

Harare—Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) late last week deployed its senior members to Sanyati where at least 80 Illegal gold miners had invaded Dalny Mine 2 Primary School in Mashonaland West province, while the police and a leading miner have stepped in to stop the invasion.

The development came a day after this publication talked to the union’s leader, Obert Masaraure, over the crisis that risks seeing the school collapsing and throwing the future of 600 pupils and 22 teachers into disarray.

The invasion started in early November and intensified when schools closed on 6 December.

As recently reported by NewsHub, the miners, popularly known as makorokoza, dug up several parts of the school premises in search of gold and are sinking tunnels beneath the classrooms.

This, parents and teachers who talked to NewsHub said, could lead to the sudden collapse of buildings, injury and even death.

In the latest development, ARTUZ in a statement said it had deployed Masaraure and six of its top officials to the school to monitor the situation.

In the ARTUZ delegation was the union’s leader for Mashonaland West, Munyaradzi Ndawana and his compatriots Brian Mhlanga and Godfrey Chanda.

In images obtained by this publication, Masaraure can be seen at the school examining the open gallies left by the illegal miners in the school yard.

In one image, Masaraure is seen entering an underground tunnel to assess the extent of damage.

In a statement ARTUZ thanked police and the education ministry officials for swiftly reacting to the crisis after its visit to Dalny Mine 2.

“The Dalny 2 crisis is now being actively attended to by police and officials. The union appreciates the rapid response from government to addressing the scourge of unregulated mining on school premises. The union was advised that top ministry of primary education officials were seized with the case,” read the statement.

“Rio Zim (mining company) and police were also working flat out to stop the illegal mining. The perpetrators are now on the run fleeing arrest,” added the statement.

Rio Zim is one of Zimbabwe’s leading diversified mining companies and, among other regions operates in Mashonaland West, the same province that the affected school is located.

Among other minerals, Rio Zim produces gold, nickel, copper, cobalt, chrome, diamonds and coal.

According to ARTUZ, “rogue” illegal miners were threatening the school head for trying to stop the invasion.

“We are deeply concerned for the safety of the female head who is a patriot doing her best to serve her beloved country. We pray responsible authorities will secure safety of the head.

“Our team managed to engage other artisanal miners digging around the perimeter of the school. They promised never to invade the school. Union (ARTUZ) salutes all stakeholders who amplified the Dalny 2 Crisis,” said the union.

In an earlier interview with NewsHub, the ministry of Primary and Secondary Education confirmed it had been informed of the invasion.

Ministry spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro, told NewsHub last Wednesday (11 December 2024) that government was working on bringing back normalcy to the school, but did not specify what action they had adopted.

“We are aware of the matter and are working together with other departments like the ministries of Mines, Local Government, Environment, Provincial Affairs and Devolution to find a lasting solution that will ensure that we continue to provide quality education in a safe learning environment,” he said.

The invasion by the illegal miners brought back memories of dangerous mining activities in Kwekwe when, in March 2023, a classroom collapsed into a tunnel, injuring 14 learners and forcing closure of the school.

Illegal miners had over the years dug tunnels underneath the school to eke out gold at Globe and Phoenix Primary School.

Illegal and artisanal gold mining in Kwekwe and other parts of the Midlands province—just like Kadoma and surrounding areas in Mashonaland West province—is to a large extent controlled by powerful political cartels.