adminProsper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
A FIERCE dispute is brewing between the Usher family and Mr Michael Van Rooyen, a white commercial farmer in Matobo District, over a mining claim with the Usher family accusing mining commissioners of granting claims in their farm without their consent.The Usher family owns the Usher Estate, a portion of land within the Matopos National Park in which Mr Van Rooyen, who runs Star Group of Mines, was reportedly granted the mining claim.
In an interview, a member of the Usher family Mr Henry Lionel Usher said his family had been robbed of its heritage.
“Mr Van Rooyen was given a mining claim in our estate without our knowledge. He now claims the place belongs to him despite the fact that we have documents that prove that the estate belongs to us,” said Mr Usher.
“We have been fighting this war for the past two years but there is no change and the mining commissioners support him. Right now we cannot utilise our land because we are being told it has been granted to someone.”
Mr Usher alleged that he has been denied permission to conduct mining activities on his family’s estate despite approaching the regional mining commission’s offices in Bulawayo on several occasions.
“It ironic that our family is living in poverty yet we own an estate rich in gold. The land is lying idle and we cannot do mining with our partners because we are told the claim belongs to someone. This is a violation of our rights as a family and we want President Mugabe to know this,” he said.
Comment could not be obtained from Mr Van Rooyen. However, Matabeleland regional mining commissioner Mrs Lindiwe Florence Thusi confirmed the dispute but declined to comment saying the matter has been referred to the ministry’s head office in Harare.
“That letter has been referred to the ministry head office. I cannot respond to it here,” she said.
According to a letter dated 01 August 2013 from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe, a copy shown to Chronicle, Usher Estate belongs to the Usher family.
“Usher Estate, a portion of land within the Rhodes Matopos Estate, is a private property belonging to the Usher family.
“The land was bequeathed to the Usher family in Cecil John Rhodes’ will, as appears in the Rhodes Estate Act Number 10 of 1978,” read the letter bearing a stamp dated 20 July 2013.
“…to that end any activity taking place in the said land without the consent of the Usher family is illegal.”
Chief Malaki Masuku who lives near the park and Chief Gwebu from neighbouring Umzingwane District, have also written supporting letters, dated 19 January 2011 and 9 August 2011, confirming that the estate in question belongs to the Usher family.
Contacted for comment the president of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Miners Association Mr Cosmas Kaitano said his organisation was aware of the issue.
“We are aware of the issue. The estate belongs to the Usher family but the problem is that Mr Rooyen has mining claims in the estate and we do not know how he obtained them without the consent of the Usher family,” said Mr Kaitano.
“I am in Harare as we speak to meet the head of mining commission over the issue.”
Online Reporter