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Fungai Muderere
HIGHLANDERS have engaged the services of a consulting company, Brunton Mining and Construction to renew their expired mining licence.
In February 2023, Bosso registered a mining company called Bosso Mining Company Private Limited, as they worked towards fully utilising the benefits of their gold mine in Inyathi.
The Bulawayo football giants were seeking to make strides to kick-start the mining project that had long stalled since the team acquired the mining claim.
President Mnangagwa awarded Highlanders the claim in 2020 as part of empowering the club to expand its revenue generation streams.
The major mine breakthrough came at a time when Highlanders were celebrating 95 years of existence and was a perfect present from the Head of State and Government.
The Government, through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, approved relevant paperwork for Bosso to start operations at their gold mining claim in December 2020, but lack of funding and failure to lure partners saw the licence expiring.
“A consulting company, Brunton Mining and Construction has been engaged to renew the expired licence. In the meantime, efforts are in place to reconstitute the Mining Subcommittee and use it to set up related structures like interim Mine Manager, Mining Partner and investors,” said Bosso chairman Kenneth Mhlophe.
Highlanders are said to have lost an undisclosed amount of money in the past by engaging geologists who only confirmed that the place had gold but didn’t provide details of where the reserves, rifts and ore can be found.
Meanwhile, Mhlophe has expressed his displeasure on how they lost gifted midfielder Devine Mhindirira who moved to FC Platinum as a free agent in the second transfer window period.
Addressing the club’s members at the club’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) last weekend, Mhlophe was at pains to explain that Bosso did not manage to harness any money as the midfielder left as a free agent.
“Over and above this the current football industry in Zimbabwe has negatively affected the player transfer market as a material contributor to club revenue. For example, apart from losing Mhindirira and countless other players, Highlanders was unable to harness revenue after the player walked away as a free agent,” said Mhlophe.
In that regard Mhlophe called upon PSL clubs to cultivate business forethought.
“Highlanders calls upon PSL clubs to promote business prudence by discouraging the acquisition of players on free transfer whenever possible. Influencing players not to extend contracts with their current clubs in anticipation of getting them for free should be discouraged. As such Highlanders will adopt a different stance to contract negotiations with current and incoming players.
“The success of this endeavour will to a large extent depend on the support from players and mostly members and fans,” said Mhlophe.
Mhindirira became a free agent after his contract expired on June 30, triggering a fiery bidding war between FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The exciting midfielder was instrumental for the Kelvin Kaindu-mentored Bosso and his departure could open a big gap that might be difficult to fill for Bosso.
derick.khumalo