Zimbabwe has seen a surge of attacks by gangs associated with the burgeoning artisanal mining sector, taking hundreds of miners' lives and the police operation to counter this violence led to the arrest of thousands, including perpetrators of violence, but also many who were simply mining without a licence. This is according to a new report by the Conflict research Organisation-International Crisis Group. The report says the violence and turmoil associated with the burgeoning artisanal mining sector in Zimbabwe are disrupting the sector and the government's centralised selling system is leading to lost tax revenue.

For more on this Channel Africa’s Khumbelo Munzhelele spoke to the Crisis Group's Senior Consultant for Southern Africa Piers Pigou.