“The effect of this to the environment is that the mercury and other substances used in gold panning contaminate the water bodies,” said Hwingwiri.
This has left locals and other players in the industry grappling to control the situation as miners and settlers both claim to be custodians of the forests illegally.
It however appears politics is at play in the conflict as one of the illegal settlers who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were entitled to settle in the forests as they had enough “political backing”.
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