News / National
Zanu-PF members clash over mine
07 Mar 2018 at 09:14hrs | Views
ZANU-PF youths in Gwanda are tussling for possession of mining claims with aspiring Member of Parliament for Gwanda Central Jafet Dube, in a development that has also sucked in Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs minister Abednico Ncube.
So intense has been the fight that Dube has on several occasions allegedly sent his youths to the West Nick Youth in Mining project owned by the Zanu-PF youths to disrupt the operations.
The mine, situated about 45 kilometres from Gwanda along the Beitbridge road, was awarded to the youths in October 2017 as a tribute from a big commercial mining company Farvic Consolidate Mine.
The gold mining tribute covers about two hectares.
West Nick Youth mining project chairperson Mpumelelo Nyoni told Southern News that all was not well at the mine, as it had become difficult to resume operations.
"In November last year, Dube approached us requesting that we accommodate him in our mining claim," Nyoni said.
"We didn't have any problem with that, we then agreed that he brings at least two people to work from here but he insisted that he wanted to bring a group of people, a suggestion we turned down," he said.
Nyoni said two months later, Dube - a former Zanu-PF senator - reportedly sent a mob of youths to demonstrate against them.
"They descended on the mine, carrying stones and various weapons. They switched off pumps and threw boulders and stones into the mine shaft.
"We reported the matter to the police and only two were arrested, fined and released. This has all been aimed at provoking us," he said.
Nyoni said the demonstrators told them point blank that they had been sent by minister Ncube and Dube.
"We confronted minister Ncube over the matter and he said he was not involved but he said he knew Dube had interests."
But Dube is not stopping in his pursuit to get the mine as he has reportedly approached Farvic with the intention of taking over.
Nyoni said they have not been operating since February 6 due to the disturbances caused by political interference.
While Dube was not reachable yesterday, Matabeleland South Zanu-PF provincial youth league chair Washington Nkomo confirmed the impasse.
"There is such a case that we have been trying to handle as the youth leadership here," Nkomo said.
"We have been on the ground and realised that the youths have all their papers in order.
"It's unfortunate that there are people who want to behave like animals by taking what does not belong to them. We have rules in this country that have to be followed," he said.
Meanwhile, as the fight continues, the West Nick Youth in Mining project members have since been dragged to court by a certain group that is also claiming ownership of the mining tribute.
So intense has been the fight that Dube has on several occasions allegedly sent his youths to the West Nick Youth in Mining project owned by the Zanu-PF youths to disrupt the operations.
The mine, situated about 45 kilometres from Gwanda along the Beitbridge road, was awarded to the youths in October 2017 as a tribute from a big commercial mining company Farvic Consolidate Mine.
The gold mining tribute covers about two hectares.
West Nick Youth mining project chairperson Mpumelelo Nyoni told Southern News that all was not well at the mine, as it had become difficult to resume operations.
"In November last year, Dube approached us requesting that we accommodate him in our mining claim," Nyoni said.
"We didn't have any problem with that, we then agreed that he brings at least two people to work from here but he insisted that he wanted to bring a group of people, a suggestion we turned down," he said.
Nyoni said two months later, Dube - a former Zanu-PF senator - reportedly sent a mob of youths to demonstrate against them.
"They descended on the mine, carrying stones and various weapons. They switched off pumps and threw boulders and stones into the mine shaft.
"We reported the matter to the police and only two were arrested, fined and released. This has all been aimed at provoking us," he said.
Nyoni said the demonstrators told them point blank that they had been sent by minister Ncube and Dube.
"We confronted minister Ncube over the matter and he said he was not involved but he said he knew Dube had interests."
But Dube is not stopping in his pursuit to get the mine as he has reportedly approached Farvic with the intention of taking over.
Nyoni said they have not been operating since February 6 due to the disturbances caused by political interference.
While Dube was not reachable yesterday, Matabeleland South Zanu-PF provincial youth league chair Washington Nkomo confirmed the impasse.
"There is such a case that we have been trying to handle as the youth leadership here," Nkomo said.
"We have been on the ground and realised that the youths have all their papers in order.
"It's unfortunate that there are people who want to behave like animals by taking what does not belong to them. We have rules in this country that have to be followed," he said.
Meanwhile, as the fight continues, the West Nick Youth in Mining project members have since been dragged to court by a certain group that is also claiming ownership of the mining tribute.
Source - dailynews
