Africa-Press – Botswana. In an effort to crack down on illegal gold mining in the Matsiloje area, the Commissioner of Police has instructed police officers to use rubber bullets to either fight, arrest or disperse illegal gold miners.
This was revealed by Inspector Kereng Batlhalefi of Matsiloje Police Station, during a kgotla meeting addressed by MP for Tati East, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe Tuesday.
Inspector Batlhalefi said with a shortage of police officers in the area, the problem persists.
“It is like fighting a losing battle.
No matter how many miners we disperse or arrest, more keep coming back,” she added.
She told the meeting that the ongoing conflict was taking a toll on the community.
She said in December, the destruction of 26 gold-detecting machines was a small victory for the police in the fight against illegal mining, but the evasive tactics of the miners thwarted any further arrests.
“They have a network of lookouts who warn them when the police are coming. By the time we get there, they are long gone,” said the police inspector.
She explained that the police were struggling to keep up with the sophisticated and elusive tactics of the miners, who seemed to be one step ahead at every turn, adding that they had intensified their joint patrols with other security agents.
She told the meeting that the Botswana Police Service had a cordial working relationship with their counterparts in Zimbabwe.
According to the residents, the illegal gold miners were not deterred by the use of any weapons by the police.
“They laugh in the face of danger. They are not afraid of anything,” said one resident, Mr John Mmolotsi.
He said the strength and resilience of the miners had become a source of frustration and concern for the community, who felt that their safety was being threatened.
“These men are dangerous. We need a real solution, not just rubber bullets,” said another resident, Mr Lawrence Chibala.
He explained that the unregulated flow of people across the border between Botswana and Zimbabwe was causing fear and anxiety among the residents of Matsiloje.
“The fear is not just about economic competition and scarce resources, but also about the potential for violence and crime,” said Mr Chibala.
Residents reported seeing groups of men, some carrying knives and other weapons, crossing the border without documentation.
The residents of Matsiloje also rejected government’s plan to introduce national identity cards for cross-border travel between the two countries.
They argued that such a system would not address the fundamental problems of crime and violence that they faced, and may even make the situation worse.
Instead, they called for increased security measures and a crackdown on criminal activities.
Earlier on in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Eric Moipolai of Matsiloje told the MP that the recent influx of illegal gold miners into Matsiloje had created fear and insecurity.
He said the minershad been linked to violent crimes and robberies in the village.
“Residents report feeling unsafe in their homes and the police have been working to address the issue, but their efforts have been hampered by lack of resources and personnel.
He therefore called for more actions to be taken to address the threat posed by the illegal miners.
Kgosi Moipolai also sounded the alarm about the potential closure or relocation of Cheetah Portland Cement, a crucial employer and economic driver in the community.
Kgosi warned that the closure would have a devastating impact on the village, causing job losses and economic hardship.
“If the mine does close, it would be a devastating blow to the community, which relies heavily on the mine for jobs and economic activity.
Young people in the village fear losing their livelihoods, and we are calling for action to protect the community because the future of Matsiloje hinges on the fate of the mine,” said Kgosi Moipolai.
“We need this mine to stay open for the sake of our young people, for the sake of our future,” he said.
His words were reiterated by the Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Annah Majamal who wondered if it was too late to save the mine, and the future of Matsiloje youth.
She said the mine had employed around 50 young people from the village who might lose their jobs.
In response to the closure of the Cheetah Portland Cement Mine, Dr Letsholathebe said negotiations were still ongoing regarding the closure of the mine, adding that he personally visited the management of the mine to get first-hand information about the allegations.
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