The Sunday News
ESIGODINI has in recent years been affected by gold planners’ gang wars, with running battles leading to death and a lot of people being maimed, but these will end.
Hon (Rtd) Brigadier General Levi Mayihlome pledged his support towards the establishment of a police base in Habane in Esigodini working hand in hand with Clr Patson Sibanda (Ward 16).
Speaking at a mining stakeholders meeting organised by Umzingwane Small-Scale Miners Association recently, the MP revealed that he has since committed his own vehicle to assist the police in having patrols around Esigodini.
“I am committed to end all these violent acts and to protect the people of Umzingwane. We promised that these acts would end during campaign time and they shall end even if it means we temporarily set aside developmental initiatives to eradicate them,” Hon Mayihlome said.
He directly spoke to the main perpetrators of violence and told them to call all their “boys” so that they hand over all their machetes and other weapons they carry.
Community members in attendance at the meeting which lasted for five hours pleaded with Hon Mayihlome to deal with the situation in Habane by any means possible.
Esigodini has for the past five years witnessed running battles between gold panners, starting with “AmaNkayi” against “AmaFilabusi” and later “maGokwe and Shurugwi” against “AmaNkayi”. — Mzingwane News Bulletin.
