By Leopold Munhende recently in Gwanda
ZANU PF officials led by one Dambudzo Mnangagwa, who claims to represent the First Family, are reportedly targeting the illegal takeover of gold-rich Vubachikwe Mine in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province.
The property, owned by United Kingdom-based entity Duration Gold Limited, has been at the receiving end of numerous attacks by a group linked to Mnangagwa and a local Zanu PF shadow Member of Parliament (MP) Limukani Ncube, popularly known as Two Minutes.
Mnangagwa in company of individuals associated with Ncube this week besieged the mine with heavy earth moving equipment and proceeded to extract gold ores within Vubachikwe’s claim.
Driving around in Zanu PF party branded vehicles, Mnangagwa threatened police officers if they dared interfere forcing them to stand akimbo and watch haplessly.
Ncube, on the other hand, is reported to have threatened takeover of the mine and hand it over to Zanu PF youths as part of a purported empowerment drive.
To demonstrate the chaos surrounding Vubachikwe Mine, in November last year, Ncube sent government officials who included the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Ministry of Mines on a two-week long wild goose chase after sharing false information that a section of the mine had collapsed killing over 30 miners.
Both the Provincial Mining Directorate and police told NewZimbabwe.com that the search that later ensued had not found any dead bodies or signs of the reported collapse.
“We have yet to hear of anyone missing. We conducted a search and rescue operation with the police and the mine’s sub-aqua unit but failed to find anyone after the report, it was a wild goose chase,” said provincial mining director, Tariro Ndlovu.
“These kinds of false alarms are criminal in that they do not just waste public resources but affect business as a lot would have been invested by those in charge of such businesses.”
In the process of searching for the reported dead miners, police instead arrested 29 illegal gold panners who were operating about 400 metres below the surface.
“We can confirm the arrest of 29 illegal gold panners during the search operation that was undertaken after news of a collapse at the mine was received,” said the police’s Gwanda District head one Ndlovu, before referring all questions to the public relations office.
The case is being handled under RRB number CR15/12/24 (DR28/12/24).
In a conversation with NewZimbabwe.com Councillor Simbarashe Lisimati also confirmed that neither an indication of a collapse nor victims had been found after the claim.
Vubachikwe Mine has since threatened legal action against Ncube who did not respond to requests for a comment on the matter.
“This was an elaborate hoax, and this was being pushed by people who are supposed to be respectable people within our community.
“What saddened us was why eminent members of the community would spread such fake news,” said Vubachikwe Mine spokesperson, Robert Mukondiwa.
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