Miner damages ministry’s offices in row over claims

Mbongeni Msimanga Sunday News Correspondent
A FEUD over mining claims in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province, has erupted between two miners that have sought the intervention of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development amid allegations that one had encroached on another’s area.Mr Longwe Ndlovu and a Mr JN Blignaut are claiming ownership of the same mining claims, a situation which acting Mines and Mining Development director for Matabeleland South, Mr Chris Dube, has attributed to Mr Blignaut’s “over-pegging into Mr Ndlovu’s mine”.

However, Mr Blignaut, who insists that he owns the area Mr Ndlovu claims to be part of his mine, in July allegedly became violent and punched through a partitioning wall at the mines ministry offices. The wall is yet to be repaired and no official report was made to the ministry or the police.

Mr Ndlovu and Mr Blignaut own mines in Esigodini and the area they are both claiming ownership to is near Esikhoveni.

Although officials at the ministry’s offices confirmed that Mr Blignaut had punched the wall, Mr Dube said he was not in a position to comment as he had not been promoted to acting director at the time.

He, however, revealed that Mr Blignaut once brought maps that did not match the ones in his office, in a bid to support his claim.

“I think it was a matter of over pegging only. I did not waste time looking at those maps that were brought in by Blignaut, but we resorted to using the maps that were in the office,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said when he reported the dispute to the ministry’s Bulawayo offices and they denied redrawing the maps, Mr Blignaut stormed the offices and became violent.

Mr Blignaut declined to comment on the issue and hung up his phone.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Professor Francis Gudyanga, said he had not received a report on the case, although he said they would look at both sides once they   receive it.

“We have not yet received an issue of that nature, but if we do receive the case, we will look at both sides of the matter,” he said.