The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) will be leasing out some gold mines that fall under its jurisdiction for as little as US$150 and have even gone further to suspend the payment of rates, until they acquired the requisite documents to start mining activities.
According to the latest council report, the local authority this month decided to demand varying monthly rentals from as little as US$150 while paying annual recognition fees of US$500.
It has also directed that those who have not started mining activities will not be billed and pay rates.
As per council tabulation provided by the local authority; Umusa Usufikile is leasing a 10 hectare gold mining claim for US$150 and is expected to pay an annual recognition fee of US$500, Oswell Dlamini is also leasing another 10 hectare gold mining claim for US$150 plus an annual recognition fee of US$500 while Vusa Mpofu is leasing a 13.06 hectare gold mining claim for US$200 and will pay an annual recognition fee of US$500.
For Quarry Mines, Cassas properties is leasing four hectare claim in Pumula for US$500 per month and will also pay an annual recognition fee of US$500, Zada Construction is leasing another 22.16 hectare claim in Pumula for US$1 300 with an annual recognition fee of US$500 while, Hualin Investments is paying US$620 monthly rentals for its 10.62 hectare quarry claim and an annual recognition fee of US$500.
The local authority has a number of mining claims within its two farms, Aisleby and Goodhope, which they leased out to individuals on a long term basis.
BCC also has other claims within its jurisdiction, which include quarry, which they are leasing out to different companies.
Meanwhile, councillors also endorsed a move that will see those companies that either do not have relevant papers or have not started mining activities being exempted from paying rates.
According to the latest council report the suspension of billing is with effect from 30 October 2018.
“The Director of Town Planning, Mr Wisdom Siziba, reported that this report sought to include a date which was omitted on the previous Council resolution of 4th October, 2023 for suspending billings of various mining claims at Aisleby and Good Hope farms.
“Council had resolved to suspend billings on various mining claims at Aisleby and Good Hope farms until they acquired the requisite documents and start mining activities. However, there was an omission on the date when the billings should be suspended. The billings should be suspended from the 30th October 2018, the date the Ministry of Mines wrote to council advising that miners should cease operations until all legal mining requirements were met,” reads the council report.
