‘When I saw the conditions I thought, ‘What have I done?’’

In the abandoned mine shafts, desperate people risk their lives in hopes of striking gold.
The term ‘zama zama’ is often associated with violence and criminality, but many of these people are former miners trying to put food on the table for their families.
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They brave 13-hour walks underground in the darkness and face constant threats from criminal syndicates who have taken over the mine shafts.
This was the life of Walter Jerald who started illegal mining…