Bulawayo Council issues final warning

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has issued a final notice to Mr. Charles Mabhena, who stands accused of conducting illegal mining activities near Cement Side, an area considered sensitive due to its proximity to critical national infrastructure.

Mabhena, who lost a mine ownership dispute over Wolley Dog Mine last year, is alleged to have since occupied an adjacent property where he is carrying out unlawful mining operations that reportedly encroach on the disputed site. The mining activities are also said to have extended into property belonging to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a protected zone where such activities are strictly prohibited.

In a letter confirming the development, BCC Director of Town Planning, Mr. Wisdom Siziba, said the council had ordered Mabhena to stop all operations immediately.

"Please be advised that council is looking into the matter and has advised Mr. Mabhena to cease all mining activities with immediate effect and has been served with a final warning, as the area is sensitive and very close to a critical national installation. Therefore, no mining activities under whatsoever conditions shall be permitted," reads part of the correspondence.

This is not the first time the matter has drawn council attention. In May last year, BCC rescinded a resolution that had granted Mrs. Egphar Siziba - who is reportedly working alongside Mabhena - permission to mine in the same area. The local authority withdrew the approval after discovering that Mrs. Siziba had applied for land already under a special grant claim administered by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

Further investigations revealed that the land in question belonged to Mr. Ishamail Lunat. Through his legal representatives, Dube Legal Practice, Lunat wrote to BCC, the Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province, and ZETDC Western Region, complaining that the pair had continued operations at the site despite multiple court orders and council resolutions prohibiting such activity.

In response to the matter, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart expressed concern and urged immediate enforcement action.

"Thank you for copying me a letter you wrote to the Officer Commanding CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit. I am hoping the law takes its course to bring these criminal activities to normalcy," said Clr Coltart.

The council has reiterated that no mining will be tolerated near ZETDC installations or within disputed land boundaries, warning that further violations could lead to legal consequences.