Suspended Zanu-PF chairman, police boss in mine wrangle

Suspended Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman, Isaac Dakamela, Bulawayo police chief, Senior Assistant Commissioner Steven Mutamba, are locked in a gold mine ownership wrangle in Matobo with the party youths.

It is alleged that between 2010 and 2011, Chiponda made an application on behalf of youths Stanley Dube, Bekithemba Maphosa and Shepherd Ngwenya to operate Nugget Mine in Matobo under the indigenisation programme after it was reportedly abandoned by the owner.

But in November 2011, Chiponda and Dakamela reportedly went behind the youths and indicated that their group, Mining Investment Syndicate, which included Mutamba, Dakamela and Isaiah, be given a mining grant on the same property.

They reportedly said the youths were no longer interested in the property.

According to a letter addressed to Mines and Mining Development Ministry chief mining commissioner Fredson Mabhena dated May 16, 2012, Bulawayo mining commissioner, one F Thusi, wrote that in November 2011 Mining Investment Syndicate approached the office applying for a special grant.

"When asked what happened to the youths, it was learnt that they were no longer interested in mining and were working somewhere hence the reason they were applying for a special grant," reads part of the letter.

"In January 2012, I was approached by the youths now wanting the same area- Nugget Mine.

"I processed their application and stated in my letter that Nugget Mine had already been applied for by Mining Investment Syndicate. Recently the special grant 5639 was issued to Mining Investment Syndicate and the youths are not happy with this as they feel their project was sabotaged by senior party officials considering that they are the ones who initiated the cancellation of Nugget Mine."

None of the youths were prepared to comment on the matter.

Charles Chiponda yesterday denied that there was any row, saying: "I do not know of any Zanu PF youths. An amicable arrangement has been made and our team is working well with the youths. I have not been directly involved as I was attending to other business."

Dakamela sang a different tune, saying they were the legitimate owners.

He also confirmed that Isaiah Chiponda and Mutamba were the co-directors.

"You cannot get a special grant if you do not have the necessary documentation," he said. "We have a special grant, it took us a year to get the papers, the fact is we are the only ones with a special grant."

Mutamba, on the other hand, said: "I do not know of any wrangle."