In a dramatic reflection of Zimbabwe’s deepening economic woes, several school teachers in Masvingo South have reportedly turned to illegal gold panning under the cover of darkness in a desperate bid to supplement their meagre salaries. Educators from Fusira, Musvovi, and Madzivanyika schools are said to be among those involved, sneaking out at night to pan for gold in Mudemba Village, Ward 27, before returning at dawn to teach in their classrooms.
The gold-rich area has recently become the site of an intense, unregulated gold rush, resulting in the arrest of at least 17 individuals for illegal prospecting. Among those drawn into the chaotic scramble for gold are not just unemployed youths or fortune-seeking outsiders, but also respected professionals, including teachers.
Sources familiar with the situation told this publication that the teachers’ involvement is driven purely by economic hardship. “After school hours, some of them head straight to the gold fields. They work all night and return in the early hours to prepare for lessons,” said a local source who requested anonymity.
The participation of teachers in such high-risk, illegal activities underscores the severe financial pressure faced by Zimbabwe’s civil servants including teachers. With stagnant wages that fail to keep up with inflation, many professionals are being forced into alternative means of income to make ends meet.
Masvingo South Member of Parliament, Tanatsiwa Mukomberi, confirmed receiving reports of teachers and other residents engaging in night-time mining. While acknowledging the desperation of locals, he urged them to follow legal channels to access mining opportunities.
“I’ve received reports of arrests in Ward 27 where a gold rush is underway. While villagers have the right to benefit from local natural resources, it is important that they do so within the legal framework. They should apply for mining claims and operate according to government regulations,” said Mukomberi.
Mukomberi also voiced frustration over the growing trend of outside investors exploiting resources in rural communities while locals are sidelined. He highlighted concerns that a large section of the gold-rich land in Ward 27 is covered by an Exclusive Prospecting Order (EPO) held by a non-local party, leaving villagers unable to stake claims in their own area.
“It’s unjust for outsiders to benefit while the people living on the land struggle. The state should prioritise community access to resources. That’s the only way to prevent such illegal mining activities,” the MP argued.
The law enforcement crackdown has so far netted dozens of arrests. Some individuals were fined for offenses such as transporting mining equipment without documentation, while others face more serious charges relating to illegal prospecting.
Zimbabwe teachers join night-time gold rush
Local villagers expressed frustration with the government’s handling of the issue and called for the formalisation of small-scale mining in the area. Many believe that if the authorities designated a legal community mining zone, it would reduce illegal operations and ensure locals can earn a living without fear of arrest.
“All we’re asking for is a chance to benefit from the gold in our own backyard. If they can peg a block for the community, people will follow the rules. But right now, the laws only seem to benefit outsiders,” said one villager.
The situation in Masvingo South highlights a broader national crisis where underpaid workers, including educators, are increasingly drawn into informal or illegal sectors. Once considered among Zimbabwe’s most stable and respected professions, teaching no longer offers economic security, pushing some to take dangerous risks in pursuit of survival.
Civil society organisations have weighed in on the issue, calling on the government to address the root causes of the crisis — namely low public sector wages, lack of formal mining opportunities for rural communities, and poor oversight in natural resource governance.
“This is not just about illegal mining — it’s about desperation,” said an activist from a local watchdog group. “When your teachers, who are supposed to be role models and educators, are forced to moonlight in gold pits, it tells you just how broken the system has become.”
As Zimbabwe continues to grapple with inflation, unemployment, and currency instability, stories like those from Masvingo South are likely to become increasingly common. Without urgent reforms in public sector pay and resource allocation, more citizens may feel forced to choose between survival and legality.
Source- Bulawayo24
