News stories by Phyllis Kachere

With half her body immersed in muddy red water, Esther Nyarambi closely inspects the contents of her wooden panning dish, locally known as zamba. Having spent the entire day pounding gold-bearing rock, she hopes her efforts will be rewarded with even the smallest nugget of gold.

Armed with picks, axes and hoes, a group of enthusiastic villagers break into song: 'Randana kamara wakaipa, Randana kamara wakashata.Watora ufuro hwezvipfuyo, wauraya mombe.' ('Lantana camara, you are evil. You have taken over grazing land for our livestock, you have killed our cattle.')