Mutare-Nyanga Road Sags Due to Illegal Mining Activities

A stretch of the Mutare-Nyanga Road has collapsed, raising serious safety concerns among motorists and nearby residents after illegal gold panners dug a trench beneath the road, weakening its structure and forcing traffic to be reduced to a single lane. The sagging section, which stretches for several meters, is located at Black Gate, just before the hill near Old Mutare Mission when approaching from the Mutare-Harare Highway.

The collapse has transformed what is normally a smooth two-lane highway into a bottleneck where motorists must now stop, wait, and give way to oncoming traffic, heightening the risk of accidents. While the collapse happened recently, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development moved swiftly to place warning signs and temporary barriers at the site to manage traffic and prevent further incidents.   Follow & Share Our WhatsApp Channel

However, efforts to obtain an official comment from the Provincial Roads Engineer, Engineer Raphael Sigauke, were unsuccessful, as his mobile number went unanswered. Similarly, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) provincial manager, Mr. Rambwayi Mapako, was also not reachable for comment despite repeated attempts.

When The Manica Post visited the site, the damage was clearly visible, with one lane partially collapsed, leaving a gaping hole beneath the tarred surface. Four metal drums have since been placed around the affected area as makeshift barriers, while temporary signs instructing motorists to "Drive Slowly" and "Give Way to Oncoming Traffic" have been erected.

Despite these measures, traffic congestion was evident, with vehicles forming queues in both directions as drivers took turns to pass through the narrow remaining lane. Frustration was palpable among motorists, many of whom expressed anger at the recklessness that led to the damage.

Beyond the road, the cause of the collapse is stark. Just a few meters from the highway lies an illegal gold panning site riddled with holes. From this site, a narrow trench, just wide enough for a person to crawl through, snakes directly under the road. In interviews, locals said the trench was excavated over time by illegal miners who operated mainly at night to avoid detection. Recent rains weakened the soil supporting the road, causing the surface to give in on December 24.

A local, Mr. John Sithole, said the collapse was inevitable, given the extent of underground digging that had taken place beneath the road. "The illegal gold panners had been mining here for quite some time. They had been making that trench slowly, night after night, but the road finally collapsed on December 24. It is sad because they never cared about what would happen to the road," said Mr. Sithole.

He said residents would often wake up to find the trench had been extended further beneath the road overnight. "What is shocking is that they never thought about the danger they were creating. This is a busy road used by buses, haulage trucks, and private cars. Damaging such infrastructure could easily cause serious accidents and loss of life, but all they cared about was getting gold," he said, adding that there were rumors among miners that a gold belt runs beneath the road, fueling the risky and illegal operations.

Following the collapse, Mr. Sithole said the panners believed to have been mining directly under the road fled the area. "Since the road fell, those men disappeared. No one has seen them again," he said.

Concerns over the illegal mining activities were echoed by Mutasa Trust director, Mr. Albert Munetsi, who said the panners had been operating on land that does not belong to them and had become increasingly aggressive over time. "They have been panning there for at least three years but it is only recently that they started building a trench that goes directly under the road. They would do this at night, when they knew no one would be watching," said Mr. Munetsi.

He said residents and landholders repeatedly reported the illegal activities to authorities. "We have been reporting these activities for some time. EMA and the police would occasionally come and make arrests, but the panners would return thereafter. They are violent and stubborn, and the situation goes beyond our control," he said.

He said the collapse of the road had vindicated long-standing fears. "This is exactly what we warned about. Illegal gold panners need to be moved from that area because they are not just destroying land, they are now threatening lives and infrastructure," he said.

Motorists using the Mutare-Nyanga Road said the collapse has turned an already busy route into a dangerous stretch. One driver, Mr. Tawanda Macherenje, said the single-lane restriction was causing delays and anxiety. "You have to stop and wait for oncoming traffic, and some drivers are impatient. If someone misjudges the distance or speed, an accident can easily happen," said Mr. Macherenje.

Another motorist, Mrs. Memory Dirikwe, said the road damage was particularly worrying at night. "At night, visibility is poor, and not everyone sees the signs in time. This is a very dangerous situation, especially for buses and heavy trucks," she said, adding that the collapse highlighted the broader impact of illegal mining. "This is not just about gold panners. This is national infrastructure. Once roads are damaged, everyone suffers," she said.

As rains continue and traffic volumes remain high during the festive season, road users fear the situation could deteriorate further if urgent repairs and decisive action against illegal mining are not taken.