BCC Town clerk gives up on mining

TOWN clerk Christopher Dube has given up on his bid to mine gold on the local authority's Aisleby Farm after he was frustrated by the city's fathers.

According to the latest council report, Dube wanted to extract the precious mineral at the farm on the outskirts of the second city, measuring 500 by 200 metres.

In his application, the town clerk said he had explored the land and discovered that it was rich in gold deposits.

"I am applying for a no objection or authority to carry out mining activities at the...farm. I have already done a miner survey which indicates that the area is rich in gold deposits...it is a requirement from the Mines ministry to get authority from council I am also employed," read his application in part.

However, a full council meeting turned down the application arguing that the mining activity, if ever it was to take place, should benefit the local authority and not an individual.

Speaking to the Daily News this week, Dube said he was unfazed by the decision, as they were many other mining options.

"...I am now looking for other places to mine," Dube said.

"Of course, there is a new council resolution which says people can start to apply for allocation of mining concessions just as they do with land allocation. However, I can't now apply for it after a month or so of having been turned down, so I will have to look elsewhere," he said.

Councillors reportedly agreed to venture into mining and take advantage of gold deposits on its properties, instead of letting illegal gold panners plunder it.

The former Victoria Falls town clerk was appointed to the post last year, replacing former clerk, Middleton Nyoni, who succumbed to cancer in 2015.