Company cedes claims to locals

 

The company, with a mine in Gwanda North, has agreed to release some of its mining claims to benefit local communities.

The communities to benefit from the mining claims are Gwanda District’s wards 9, 8 and 21.

Traditional leadership from the three wards last Wednesday met the mine’s authorities to map up a way forward on how the claims would be handed over to the community.

Among the traditional leadership who attended the meeting at the mine’s offices were Chief Mathema, the chairman of the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust, headman Sithembelekuye Mluphi and local rural district councillors.

In an interview, Gurus Holdings managing director Mr Ignatius Gonah said plans were under way to hand over part of the mine’s claims to the community.

“We have agreed with the community to release about 14 mining claims which are outside the Freda Mine lease which we bought in 2003 from Forbes and Thompson Company. We want to chip in to empower local communities as part of the Government’s economic empowerment programme,” he said.

Although the company is not on the list of the contributing companies for the community share scheme, the company has decided to assist the community.

“We are a local indigenous company and not linked to any foreign company but we feel that we have to plough back to the community by releasing some of our claims to benefit rural development programmes. However, we are yet to liaise with the Ministry responsible for approval,” said Mr Gonah.

He said the community would be expected to develop the claims and make them proper mines.

The community has set up a seven-member committee that would be responsible for monitoring the mining activities of the community.

Ward 9 Clr Mozitha Moyo expressed gratitude over the mine’s initiative to benefit the community.

“We are thankful for this noble gesture by Gurus Holdings as this            would benefit our people immensely,” he said.

Clr Moyo said the community should work hard towards developing themselves from the proceeds of their claims.

Gwanda is inundated with vast mineral resources that can develop                                           and transform mining communities for the better.