Zanu-PF bigwigs in gold mine wrangle

BUSINESSMAN and Plumtree Chiefs Football Club director Lovemore Sibanda is squaring off with Zanu-PF bigwigs in Matabeleland South accusing them of grabbing a mining claim from him in Kezi while in the process of registering it.

MPs Madodana Sibanda of Gwanda North and Soul Ncube of Matobo South and their supporters are part of Ndabankulu Mining Syndicate that is being accused of wresting Ndabankulu Mine from Sibanda's Qalo Syndicate which had pegged the claim first and submitted papers for registration with the Bulawayo mining commissioner.

The Zanu-PF bigwigs are alleged to be working in cahoots with the mining commissioner in grabbing the claim from Sibanda. Sibanda has since approached the Bulawayo High Court seeking recourse.

The Bulawayo mining commissioner and Zanu-PF mining syndicate Ndabankulu are cited as first and second respondents.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Munodawafa Takuva ordered the Zanu-PF syndicate to halt mining activities at the claim situated in Maphisa, Kezi.

"Pending the confirmation or the discharge of this order that this order shall operate as a temporary order having the effect of (a) Restraining the second respondent from carrying out any mining activities at Ndabankulu Mining claim, Maphisa/Kezi, or stationing its personnel thereat or in any, away taking occupation thereof. (b) Within five days of the grant of this order the applicant shall institute proceedings challenging the validity of the mining certificate issued to the second respondent in respect of Ndabankulu Mining claim," ordered Takuva

Soon after getting the interdict, Sibanda filed an application for review of the issuing of the mining certificate to the Zanu-PF syndicate.

In his founding affidavit, Sibanda, on behalf of his Qalo Mining Syndicate, said on January 31 this year using his prospective licence he identified the claim and pegged it before he went to register it on February 3.

"On 5 February 2014, I personally attended at first respondent (mining commissioner)'s offices to follow up on the mining certificate and registration of the claim.

"I was there advised by first respondent officers that first respondent was under instructions not to issue any certificate in respect of the identified land for the time being. I was further advised to await further developments," he said.

Sibanda said he was surprised at a meeting of miners in Bulawayo with officials from the Mines ministry on February 14 to learn that the claim had been given to Ndabankulu Mining Syndicate.

Sibanda then approached the court for redress arguing that claims were registered on a first-come first-serve basis, hence the claim was supposed to be registered to him.

However, the Zanu-PF officials, through their syndicate, have filed opposing papers to Sibanda's application through their lawyer Solomon Mguni arguing that their certificate was not obtained through misrepresentation of facts or fraud, but after having satisfied the requirements of the mining commissioner.

The matter is still to be set down for hearing.