Friday, 29th December 2006 (2402 views)

Police in Zimbabwe have arrested thousands of illegal gold miners, it has emerged.

It is thought that around 16,000 people have been detained during the three-week purge on the practice, which has seen thousands take to the mines as a replacement for the loss of their commercial agriculture livelihoods.

It is thought that over 500,000kg of gold and gold ore was recovered through the arrests and raids.

Brian Hungwe, a Zimbabwean journalist told the BBC that high unemployment rates and a large reduction in the manufacturing sector had seen people become increasingly desperate.

"You can imagine - you are living along a river bed and there are lots of minerals there," he explained.

"It's very difficult to stop people from indulging in such activities given the high unemployment rate. Despite the arrest of 16,000 people I don't believe this will stop the illegal operations."

Police claim that all the miners have been released following admission of guilt payments or promises of payment.

 

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