Chief Malisa in gold mine squabbles

The Federation of Small to Medium Scale Miners has intervened in the leadership squabbles at Peace Mine in an effort to resolve the wrangle that is threatening the livelihoods of nearly 5000 people in Silobela.

Chief Malisa, who is the patron and Mzingwane Nkiwane, the chairman of the mine, are accusing each other of greed, dishonesty and shady dealings.

While these two exchange accusations and counter accusations on who should be in charge of running the gold rich Peace Mine, the future of more than 4750 people, who have been benefitting from the mining concern, is becoming uncertain.

A meeting was held to resolve the wrangle and each of the two warring leaders were at pains trying to convince the people that they played critical roles in getting the mining concern from Mwana Africa.

The highly charged meeting also saw Chief Malisa insinuating that there is a third hand fuelling the problems at the mine.

The interventions of small scale miners' representatives saw the two leaders burying the hatchet.

In four months, Peace Mine has managed to produce 18 kgs of gold and with proper mining equipment, the mine is said to have a potential of producing 10 kgs per month.