Mine seeks to relocate graves

S. Grey 1 Mine in Mberengwa has approached district authorities seeking permission to exhume and relocate graves situated within its gold mining claim.

In a letter dated July 29, 2026, addressed to Mberengwa Rural District Council, mine owner and director Ament Nyaya said the company, operating under certificate number 30657 at Clonymore Farm Stand 241 in Yorks, Mberengwa, holds a valid mining claim.

Nyaya said the proposed exhumation had become necessary because the mine's gold-bearing zone extends towards the burial site.

The company has reportedly identified an alternative site for reburial with the assistance of Chief Bute, who is said to have agreed to the proposal.

Nyaya also said relatives of the deceased had consented to the proposed relocation.

However, Mberengwa District Development Coordinator Vafios Hlabati said the relevant authorities had not yet been formally engaged and warned that the involvement of relatives alone was insufficient to authorise the process.

"We have not been reached on the matter. There is need for proper paperwork to be done before the process can proceed. The fact that relatives have confirmed the matter does not mean that the required procedures can be bypassed," Hlabati said.

The development comes as mining activities continue to expand across mineral-rich areas of Mberengwa, raising concerns over the protection of graves and cultural heritage sites where mining claims overlap with burial grounds.

In its correspondence, the mine said several Government departments had been notified of the proposed relocation and that it was awaiting guidance on the appropriate procedures.

The letter was copied to the District General Mberengwa, Officer-in-Charge ZRP Mberengwa, Mberengwa Rural District Council, ZRP Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit (MFFU) in Zvishavane, the District Health Officer and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

The company is now seeking formal guidance and the necessary approvals before any exhumation or relocation takes place.

The case highlights the potential conflict between expanding mining operations and the protection of burial sites, with authorities expected to ensure that any relocation complies with the applicable legal, cultural and administrative requirements.