Blanket Mine dragged to court

Gwanda Correspondent
GWANDA’S Blanket Mine has been dragged to court on allegations of stealing gold ore after carrying out “illegal” mining operations at a claim owned by a local mining syndicate.
Representatives of the giant mining firm appeared in court on Friday charged with prospecting for minerals without a permit or licence at Mighty Bears Mine between mid-December last year and January 30 this year.

Mighty Bears Syndicate representative Goden Mtokoti told Matabeleland South provincial magistrate-in-charge Reuben Mukavhi that Blanket Mine ignored a warning to stop its advances.

Mtokoti produced a statement in which he said upon learning of illegal operations by Blanket Mine, syndicate members visited their claim and found Blanket Mine workers busy working on their claim.

“We asked who they were and they indicated they were workers contracted by Blanket Mine to conduct a drilling project at the site. We met with the Blanket Mine general manger Caxton Mangezi in his office on January 17, 2014,” Mtokoti said.

“We indicated that his company was carrying some mining operations on our claim to which Mangezi in response indicated to us that we should be grateful, enthusiastic and happy that Blanket Mine, a renowned company was carrying out some mining operations on our claim.

“Blanket Mine knowingly and criminally trespassed into and carried mining operations into the Mighty Bears Syndicate claims without their consent,” said Mtokoti.”
He also accused the firm of destroying the environment during its operations within the claim and stealing gold ore.

Blanket Mine denied the charges through their lawyer Josphat Tshuma of Webb, Low and Barry Legal Practitioners.
However, the company apologised for inconvenience caused by its drilling programme at the syndicate’s claim.

“Regrettably and contrary to our initial findings that the ground was open to prospecting and pegging, the Mascot drilling sites are indeed within a claim held by Mighty Bears Syndicate . . . Blanket Mine would like to unequivocally extend its apologies to Mighty Bears Syndicate for any inconveniences that this drilling may have caused,” read a letter written by Wilbert Mugomo, the company’s exploration manager, dated January 20, 2014.

After apologies from Blanket Mine, the Mighty Bears Syndicate had indicated in a letter dated January 21, 2014, that it would not stop the drilling programme but wanted a $350,000 compensation from Blanket Mine for illegal exploration on their claim.

The matter was postponed to May 30 for continuation of trial.
Mncedisi Dube prosecuted.