Machete-wielding Gangs in Zimbabwe’s Mining Sector: Implications for Peace and Equitable Resource Extraction at Local Level /

Abstract

Machete-wielding gangs have become a common feature in Zimbabwe‟s artisanal and small-scale mining industry. These gangs have murdered, maimed and raped hundreds of people across the country. Numerous policy pronouncements have been made by the cabinet on the matter and law enforcement agents have arrested and prosecuted thousands of machete gangsters. However, despite these efforts, machete gangs continue to wreak havoc across the country and the state seems reluctant to investigate let alone prosecute public officials accused of sponsoring their activities. This raises questions about the government‟s commitment towards combating this menace. Against this backdrop, this article interrogates the root causes of machete gangs in Zimbabwe‟s artisanal and small-scale mining industry. It explains the implications of their activities on peace and equitable resource extraction at the local level. Moreover, the article provides some suggestions on how government can intervene to resolve this crisis. The qualitative research approach was adopted in this study. Data were collected, using documentary search and in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis and content analysis were used to present and analyse the data gathered. This study attributes the problem of machete gangs to factors such as poverty, a flawed centralised gold buying system, a patronage-based economy, and an archaic Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:01].