The Sunday News
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
PEACE has returned to Peace Mine Turtle 54 in Silobela after the Government on Friday resolved the long standing impasse between the mine owner and the community which will see the chiefs on behalf of the communities taking over the control of the gold mine.
After years of fighting between Mr Arther Nkiwane and the community led by four chiefs and 12 headmen, a four-member ministerial team which visited the mine on Friday left both parties with smiles. The mine will become a Community Share Ownership Trust headed by chiefs.
The ministerial delegation led by Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa, his deputy Fred Moyo, Small to Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni and Home Affairs Deputy Minister Cde Obedingwa Mguni and the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Midlands Cde Jason Machaya met the warring parties before resolving the dispute.
Minister Chidhakwa said Peace Mine — a pilot mine under the Government programme which saw small mines accessing mining equipment on zero deposit — should be in the hands of the community. The mine will, however, be allowed to reopen after they implement directives set by the minister.
He said the four chiefs namely Ruya, Govo, Malisa and Sigodo in Silobela would become the board of trustees. The Minister said the chiefs would then elect one of them to become the chairperson of the board. He said the board of trustees which will also have the District Adminisitrator, Silobela rural district council chief executive officer and chairperson would then choose directors to run the mine. The directors liaising with the ministry would employ a qualified mine manager and supporting staff before mining activities commence.
“We are here to bring sanity to Peace Mine and from today, Mr Nkiwane ceases to be the sole owner of the mine. This is now a community mine that will be run by the four chiefs who will set up a board of trustees. So what I am saying is that we now have new shareholders who are Silobela community members represented by the chiefs who are the board of trustees.
Mr Nkiwane who assisted in the registering of the mine should be thanked for the job he did for the greater good of the mine and Silobela community. So a new company, a new mine with the board of trustees will run operations from now going forward,” he said.
Added Cde Chidhakwa: “Mr Nkiwane, you should now look at other things to do since this is now a community mine. This mine was part of Mwana Africa before it was signed as a tribute agreement and given to the Silobela community. Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Ministry of Mines will assist in putting in order all the paper work making this mine a community share ownership trust mine.”
He called on the villagers to desist from fighting each other for the control of the mine which he said was no longer in one man’s hands.
“We want peace, we want order and the police will arrest unruly elements in the community,” he said.
Minister Chidhakwa said Mwana Africa gave the tribute to the Silobela community which Mr Nkiwane took total control of.
He said Mr Nkiwane was no longer the chairman of the mine.
“Whatever was done before by Nkiwane is now in the past. We are moving forward and I don’t want to hear reports of squabbles or fighting again. We don’t need to fight each other. Let’s work together. From now we don’t want to hear anyone saying he is from Cde Nkiwane faction. You all belong to the chiefs. This area will re-open soon.”
He said President Mugabe was saddened by the surge in people dying in mines.
“Last week we buried eight people in Concession and it must not happen here or anywhere in the country,” said Cde Chidhakwa.
Mr Nkiwane said he was leaving the mine to pursue other things.
He said, “I leave this to the chiefs, to the community. From 1999 I was operating here but I am making way for the community,” he said.
Chief Malisa thanked the Government for intervening and bringing sanity at the mine. He called on community members to work together.
“I’m happy that we have this new beginning. No more fighting because we can’t have our children dying to have access to the gold which President Mugabe said was ours,” he said.
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