Editorial Comment: Illegal gold panners must face the music

28 Feb, 2020 - 00:02 0 Views
Editorial Comment: Illegal gold panners must face the music

The ManicaPost

THE purpose of law in any society is to serve as a norm of conduct for citizens, provide proper guidelines and order.

This keeps the society running.

Anyone who transgresses or acts contrary to the dictates of what the law says faces a litany of remedial action as prescribed by the same law as punishment. This preserves freedom and moral agency.

It, therefore, follows that when an individual or group of people decides to act contrary to what the law says, the relevant arms of Government must act quickly and whip them in line.

Perpetrators of this kind must be made to face the law and be charged for breaching the prescribed guidelines and get sentences which are in line with statute.

Elsewhere in this issue we carry a story in which the leader of a gang of illegal gold panners who recently pounced on Redwing Mine in Penhalonga armed with machetes and axes was slapped with a three-year jail term for causing mayhem and theft.

His conviction follows weeks of chaotic incidences in the gold-rich area which were only calmed after a police operation that netted 186 illegal panners in Odzi.

Those living in areas away from the problem spots might fail to understand the magnitude of the problems the illegal panners were causing both to society through their violent nature and the resultant environmental degradation.

A visit to Odzi and surrounding areas is not pleasant for one is met with deep gullies of unimaginable proportions which need to be rehabilitated quickly for they are posing danger to humans and animals.

Socially, a deep scar has been left in the Odzi community as otherwise innocent villagers were exposed to the worst forms of behaviour ranging from prostitution, violence and robbery by the illegal miners who engaged in all sorts of vice.

The police undertook a sterling operation to normalise  the situation and bring the culprits to book. Likewise, the courts must do their part and prosecute those implicated.

It is refreshing to note that criminal cases involving the illegal gold panners are being handled by senior prosecutors at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts and the cases are moving quickly.

Those whose hands clean are being acquitted while those who were illegally panning for gold or fanning violence have been slapped with jail sentences of two years or more

Eight suspects were jailed last week on charges of prospecting without permits. Several cases are on trial and more verdicts are in the pipeline.

District public prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, who is leading the prosecutions, has on numerous occasions urged the courts to send the correct signal to society by incarcerating those found guilty.

His argument is that the illegal panners were causing untold violence in the community as well as destroying the environment by digging up anywhere looking for gold.

Peace-loving citizens must not live in fear because of the actions of a few gold panners who are engaged in criminal enterprise.

It is the duty of the police and other law enforcement agents to ensure that everyone is in sync with the law.

Thugs and vagabonds must not be allowed to do as they please for this leads to total disorder and the emergence of ruthless gangs.

The prevailing economic hardships must not be used to justify criminal behaviour.

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