Villagers demand probe into mining firm

Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
VILLAGERS from Shangani area in Insiza District are demanding an investigation into the establishment of a gold stamp mill plant at Populars Farm, saying they were not consulted over the issue. Angry villagers yesterday summoned the District Administrator, Mrs Sithandiwe Ncube and council officials to a meeting at Shangani Community Hall to explain the recent licensing of the Israeli-partnered Yaron Goldstone Mine firm near Shangani Business Centre along the Bulawayo-Harare Highway.

The development has sucked in former football administrator and businessperson Ms Henrietta Rushwaya, the company’s chief executive officer, who could not be reached for comment on her mobile phone last  night.

The owner of the farm, Mr Makepesi Mhlanga, stunned the fully packed hall when he professed ignorance about the investment.
“I was shocked to see those people getting into my farm and setting up their machines without my approval. I did not know what they wanted because I was not consulted,” said Mr Mhlanga.

“As we speak, their machines are running and I am still in the dark as to what is happening. I wonder who is behind all this?”
Other villagers weighed in saying the gold-rich area has been flooded by “foreigners” who have been prospecting for minerals in their territory.

“Unknown companies and individuals are bulldozing their way into our farms prospecting for minerals and doing as they please,” fumed one of the villagers from the floor.

“You just see people pegging in your farm and we wonder who they are and where do they get the backing? We want an explanation as to who approved them.”

Another villager said: “We demand a say in investment activities in our area and in every decision making process about our place we want to be represented. We demand the right to mine in our farms.”

The coordinator of the meeting, Cde Jabulani Phetshu, said the community should be consulted and given shares in the companies that operate in the area.

“If there is a company owned by Israelis here, we want 10 percent shares in it and Mr Mhlanga should be given a senior managerial post there. We want transparency in this matter,” said Cde Phetshu.

The villagers said they felt shortchanged when the Government grants mining or prospecting licences to outsiders to extract minerals on their farms.

They said the issue was against the spirit of indigenisation and economic empowerment and called for the review of mining laws.
In her response, Mrs Ncube said the issue was being looked into and could not comment further.

“We are looking at the issue and I am not at liberty to disclose where we are now. I am tied up in terms of comment but will engage the relevant people,” she said.

Mrs Ncube, however, said mining companies and individuals should consult communities they operate in.
She concurred with the villagers on the need to review mining laws to ensure that farmers benefit from minerals on their land.

The new stamp mill is servicing up to 100 small-scale miners from the Shangani area.
The Israeli investors have said they were prepared to invest up to $100 million in various economic sectors such as mining and energy.