April 16, 2026
An unarmed artisanal miner was allegedly shot while fleeing from security personnel at the Sino Africa Huijin Mine in Premier Estate, Old Mutare, in an incident that has intensified scrutiny over the use of force in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
According to preliminary reports, the miner, whose identity has been withheld was shot from the back, suggesting he posed no immediate threat at the time. He survived the shooting but sustained serious injuries. The circumstances surrounding the incident have sparked concerns about excessive use of force and possible extrajudicial action by security personnel.
The Centre for Natural Resource Governance CNRG Zimbabwe , in a statement, condemned the shooting, describing it as part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of violence at the mine and across Zimbabwe’s extractive sector.
“This tragic event is not an isolated occurrence,” the organisation noted, pointing to at least three shooting incidents recorded at the same site over the past five years.
Police, however, have offered a different account. Manicaland police spokesperson Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident, stating that the shooting occurred in alleged self-defence after security guards fired warning shots to disperse a group of illegal miners.
Beyond the immediate incident, the CNRG report highlights systemic issues within mining communities, including allegations of extortion, corruption, and abuse by security personnel. Artisanal miners reportedly pay bribes, sometimes as much as US$10 per load of ore to gain access to mining sites, while those unable to pay face violence ranging from beatings to gunfire.
There are also claims that some security guards collude with miners while simultaneously exploiting them, with reports of extortion demands reaching up to US$2,000. Community members have raised concerns over what they describe as a growing culture of impunity, with security personnel accused of targeting vulnerable local youth and engaging in illicit activities themselves.
The latest shooting adds to a string of violent incidents linked to mining operations in Zimbabwe. In April 2025, an artisanal miner was fatally shot at the same mine under disputed circumstances, while other cases across the countryincluding in Mutoko, Filabusi, and the Marange diamond fields—have similarly involved the use of lethal force against unarmed miners.
CNRG argues that these incidents reflect a deeper governance crisis, where weak oversight and poor accountability mechanisms allow violence to persist unchecked in resource-rich areas.
“The continued use of live ammunition against civilians… reflects a systemic failure to uphold human rights and protect vulnerable communities,” the organisation said.
In response, CNRG is calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the latest shooting, with findings made publi, demanding accountability for those responsible, reforms to the use-of-force protocols in mining areas, and stronger protections for artisanal miners and surrounding communities.
The organisation further urged the government to expedite reforms to mining laws and governance frameworks to prioritise human rights, transparency, and justice.
As pressure mounts, the incident has once again placed Zimbabwe’s mining sector under the spotlight, raising critical questions about the balance between resource control and the protection of human life.
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