Bikita tantalite stampede

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
HUNDREDS of illegal miners have invaded Bikita Minerals, the country’s sole lithium mine, following the discovery of tantalite within the company’s claim, an official has confirmed.

Bikita Rural District Council chief executive officer, Peter Chibi said the illegal miners are causing havoc in the district and disturbing official mining activities at the mine.

He said scores of youths from as far as Manicaland and Shurugwi in the Midlands Province have camped at Bikita Minerals under Chief Marozva area, in search of tantalite.

Chibi said the illegal miners have had running battles with the police.

He said some were injured during the skirmishes and taken to hospital.

Chibi said police were restoring sanity.

“We would want to thank the police because the numbers of the illegal miners kept swelling each day. Since police moved in, there are now fewer cases of illegal mining. The illegal miners deprived us of potential revenue as they weren’t paying anything to the local authority,” he said.

Tantalite is used in a number of industrial applications. It is often used as a substitute to platinum. The mineral is on demand on the international market where it is sold for around $130 per kilogramme.

Chibi said engagement with Bikita Minerals to formalise tantalite mining operations were on course with the two parties having met on Tuesday.

He said once the tantalite mining operations have started the local authority stands to get $4,000 per year in land levy from Bikita Minerals.

Bikita District Administrator Innocent Matingwina said the issue of illegal miners was disturbing but added that authorities were now on top of the situation.

Matingwina said the area which is under Bikita Minerals’ jurisdiction is now guarded to prevent any attempts to carry out illegal mining activities.

He said apart from Bikita Minerals there is another company, Nkonkoni Mining Company which is likely to be involved in the same venture from the Gutu district side.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa could not be reached for comment as he was said to be locked in a meeting at the time of going to Press.