Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. VILLAGERS, who hold gold claims in Makaha, Mudzi district, Mashonaland East province, are up in arms with former Zanu PF director of information Danny Musukuma, whom they accuse of seizing their claims following joint venture arrangements.
The dispute highlights growing tensions around artisanal and small-scale mining in Zimbabwe, where politically-connected figures are frequently accused of using their influence to displace legitimate claim holders.
Musukuma, who was formerly part of the Zanu PF Harare provincial leadership and was a member of the party’s district co-ordinating committee before the 2017 military -assisted ouster of the late former President Robert Mugabe, is accused by villagers — including a widow — of abusing political power to seize their mines, which are their main source of livelihoods.
In a video, that has since gone viral, villagers, including a village head, allege that Musukuma has unleashed a reign of terror, forcibly taking over gold claims despite the owners holding valid mining documents.
The victims revealed that Musukuma has a stranglehold on Makosa Police Station such that when they file reports against him and his accomplices the law enforcement agents turn a blind eye.
They further claimed that Musukuma openly boasts of having control over officers at the police station, adding sometimes complainants were arrested after filing reports.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Musukuma over the past week were unsuccessful. However, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were investigating the matter.
“As police, we have launched an investigation into the matter and we will provide more information once we get the correct details,” Nyathi told NewsDay this week.
According to the villagers, Musukuma entered into a gold mining joint venture with the late Juwau John Nkomo before allegedly assuming total control and evicting the deceased’s family from the operation.
“My father died at the age of 106. When we engaged Musukuma over the gold claim ownership, he threatened us with a gun,” Rabson Nkomo, who is the executor of the estate of Juwau, said.
“As a family, we approached the Mines ministry, which confirmed that we are the legitimate owners of the mine. Today, Musukuma has taken over what belongs to us, claiming that he is untouchable because of his proximity to the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa).
“People are losing their gold claims here to Musukuma; we are appealing to the government to come and assist us. We are being terrorised in broad daylight.”
Rabson alleged that Musukuma fired shots at their homestead, but police failed to act.
“The mining deal was that Musukuma gets 60% and my late father gets 40% but we have been getting nothing.
“At one point, he fired four shots at our homestead. I even took the cartridges to Makosa Police Station, but the police did not take action,” Rabson said.
The villagers also revealed how they have been in and out of police cells due to frivolous charges allegedly orchestrated by Musukuma.
Tendai, another son of the late Nkomo, said he had been arrested several times.
“My son’s house was destroyed by Musukuma’s excavator, we are being harassed day and night, and nothing is being done to him,” he said.
The villagers accused Musukuma of dumping heaps of sand in their fields and destroying their houses as he allegedly exploits their gold claims.
Seventy-year-old widow Diana Mandiseka Munyoro also accused Musukuma of invading her gold claims and farmland.
“My late husband left a gold mine for me, but Musukuma came and claimed that it was his land and gold claims,” she said.
“My husband also had nine buildings, which I rented out, but they were destroyed by Musukuma; nothing happened to him despite police reports. He [Musukuma] even destroyed my cyanide tanks; I am in pain.
“I made several reports at Makosa Police Station, instead, the police arrested me. I drilled a borehole and Musukuma destroyed it.
“I now fetch water from other villagers’ water sources. He destroyed three of my crushing engines in a well. I am poor because of him. I am suffering all these years because of one man.”
Munyoro filed two cases against Musukuma for vandalising her property and cyanide tanks at Makosa Police Station under CR2/10/25 and CR3/10/25.
Village head Chitiyo, said Musukuma boasted of being untouchable and that no one would rein him in.
“Musukuma does not respect me as a village head. I am also his victim. Zanu PF members here are against him, he tells them that he is the boss,” Chitiyo said.
“I have received several reports of him invading villagers’ gold claims and land. If you approach him, he makes sure that you get arrested over frivolous charges.
“We appeal to the government or the responsible authorities to assist us before blood is spilled here.”
The villagers alleged that, with the assistance of police at Makosa, Musukuma is blocking them from accessing their mines despite them holding valid licences.
Musukuma’s victims revealed how they have been dragged to court on several occasions, accused of committing frivolous offences before being acquitted.
They also accused officers from the Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit at Mutoko Central Police Station of allegedly receiving bribes to arrest and detain them at Musukuma’s behest.
The villagers have since filed a complaint with the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission over the conduct of officers at Makosa Police Station.
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