Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) Director General (DG) Peter Magosi has disclosed that DIS has set up operations to curb illegal mining around the Francistown, Matsiloje and surrounding areas.
For some time now, cases of illegal gold mining and smuggling have been on the rise with perpetrators targeting the unused gold mines in Francistown, Matsiloje and surrounding areas. Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson and Francistown South legislator, Wynter Mmolotsi this week asked Magosi about the escalating cases of illegal mining happening at these places. Mmolotsi stated that illegal mining happening at these places is a concern to national security.
Appearing before PAC, Magosi disclosed that DIS is aware of the illegal mining and smuggling and is taking precautionary measures to dissolve the situation. “We have noted the illegal mining happening at the places and I want to put it out there that we have set up operations that are working very hard to deal with this problem,” he revealed.
The DIS boss revealed that the security organ is working closely with police to apprehend people who are involved in illegal mining. He also indicated that they have made great strides since setting up an operation there. “I want to assure the nation that the situation is being dealt with and so far we have made arrests of Zimbabweans who are involved in this,” Magosi said.
Magosi further disclosed that some of the illegal miners they apprehended are repeat offenders that have been on bail while some were people they had been in searching for. He highlighted that DIS will continue with the set-up operation until they have completely dissolved the illegal gold mining and smuggling problem that has been a concern to the nation.
