News / National
Bosso fight to recover mine after special grant lapses
2 hrs ago |
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Highlanders Football Club is actively engaging authorities in a bid to regain its Inyathi gold mining claim, which lapsed after the club failed to apply for renewal of its Special Grant.
The club was originally awarded the mining claim in 2020 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as part of initiatives to empower the club and boost revenue-generation, coinciding with Highlanders' 95th anniversary. The grant, which operates on a two-year renewable cycle, was formally issued in 2022.
Following the award, Highlanders set up a mining committee comprising board members, the CEO at the time, and experts with mining experience. The club also registered a mining company and undertook surveying and geological work in 2023, producing a bankable report and identifying a potential partner, who was later deemed unfit by the club's leadership.
"In 2023, the club went further to carry out surveying and geological activities and produced a bankable geological report, leading to us being able to find a partner who availed themselves but they were deemed unfit to operate by the leadership," said Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe.
Despite these efforts, the Special Grant lapsed due to non-renewal, and the claim was subsequently reallocated to another applicant. Mhlophe confirmed that the club continues to engage relevant authorities in hopes of possible reinstatement.
While the mining venture had been expected to provide significant financial gains, the Highlanders clubhouse continues to generate steady monthly revenue. The facility had undergone renovations funded through a five-year contract with a consultant, whose first phase lapsed in March 2025. The repayment phase of the loan agreement is currently ongoing, with the consultant honouring obligations since September 2025.
"The partnership continues to serve members and patrons alike. The consultant is fulfilling his obligations in this next phase of the contract," Mhlophe said.
The club remains hopeful that ongoing discussions with government authorities could see the reinstatement of the gold mining claim, restoring a potentially lucrative revenue stream for the Bulawayo giants.
The club was originally awarded the mining claim in 2020 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as part of initiatives to empower the club and boost revenue-generation, coinciding with Highlanders' 95th anniversary. The grant, which operates on a two-year renewable cycle, was formally issued in 2022.
Following the award, Highlanders set up a mining committee comprising board members, the CEO at the time, and experts with mining experience. The club also registered a mining company and undertook surveying and geological work in 2023, producing a bankable report and identifying a potential partner, who was later deemed unfit by the club's leadership.
"In 2023, the club went further to carry out surveying and geological activities and produced a bankable geological report, leading to us being able to find a partner who availed themselves but they were deemed unfit to operate by the leadership," said Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe.
Despite these efforts, the Special Grant lapsed due to non-renewal, and the claim was subsequently reallocated to another applicant. Mhlophe confirmed that the club continues to engage relevant authorities in hopes of possible reinstatement.
While the mining venture had been expected to provide significant financial gains, the Highlanders clubhouse continues to generate steady monthly revenue. The facility had undergone renovations funded through a five-year contract with a consultant, whose first phase lapsed in March 2025. The repayment phase of the loan agreement is currently ongoing, with the consultant honouring obligations since September 2025.
"The partnership continues to serve members and patrons alike. The consultant is fulfilling his obligations in this next phase of the contract," Mhlophe said.
The club remains hopeful that ongoing discussions with government authorities could see the reinstatement of the gold mining claim, restoring a potentially lucrative revenue stream for the Bulawayo giants.
Source - The Chronicle
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