Tunatazama - Community Monitors

Mopani worms target for armed robbers

Story by Dr Philemon Mokuele /Gwanda small scale miners/17/04/08

On the 16th day of April at mbembesi shopping centre west nicleson gwanda in matebaleland south province one of the biggest camp for mopani harvesters, one of the armed robbers who have been terrorizing the area for the past week’s was caught by angry community.

Since the beginning of the mopani worms season mid march a lot of pple came from all over the country to flood the small rural community of gwanda to harvest the mopani worms which are increasingly becoming cash cows.

As you know thieves are always looking for cash they have turned west nic their own play ground .They armed robbed west nick on the 14th of April, lady luck was not on their side on the 16th when they tried to rob again at mbembesi shopping centre at around 8pm when pple were still drinking beer, they forced everyone to lie down took cash amacimbi and ran to a Honda fit which was parked a few metres from the scene ,little did they know that trained officers are part of the crowd, the officers started chasing them, the first suspect jumped into the car ,the driver sped off leaving the second suspect and officers caught him,the community beat him and he was surrendered to the west nic police camp who made a follow up to beitbridge with the assistance of beitbridge police and caught the other two who confesed that they are the ones who caused havoc and raided the poor pple haversting mopani worms .

Mopani worms are a good source of income olso create employment .I therefore appeal to the local leaders to strategies how pple of mat south can peacefully benefit from their God given gift .