The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
VILLAGERS in Sijawukwe Ward 9 of Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province have appealed to authorities to assist them evict a miner who they claim illegally occupied a mine belonging to a well known family in the area.
In a letter seen by Sunday News, the Sijawukwe community’s village heads said the miner, Mr Innocent Makope occupied the mine without consulting the requisite leadership and addressing the community.
“We request that you assist us remove Innocent Makope who illegally occupied Lui Trovie Mine which belongs to the Nyoni Family Holdings having been granted right to the place by Bilboes Holdings. Makope neither introduced himself to village heads, Dunjana and Phiri. The gentleman goes on to use water from the dam which is meant for our cattle without anyone’s consent,” read part of the letter.
The letter stated that Mr Makope started to mine at an area pegged as an Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPO), which is a large area of ground targeting the selected minerals for exploration. In a letter dated 21 November 2020, Bilboes Holdings which is said to be owning the land where the mine is situated, gave the Nyoni Family Holdings permission to repeg their mine.
“Request to peg 10 hectares in Bilboes EPO 1646. Upon checking, the area is outside our target blocks and therefore you can peg if you so wish under the name of your syndicate/company at your own cost after verification by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development whom you must approach for assistance,” read part of the letter.
Representing the Nyoni Family Holdings, their accredited agent, Mr Robert Phiri said after the acknowledgement by Bilboes Holdings to allowed them to repeg they approached Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Matabeleland North office to pay for the EPO.
Receipts seen by this publication showed that on 7 April 2021 they paid US$1 000 for a prospecting licence order (084508AA) and US$1 000 for registration- Gold (084508AA inv. 51590B).
Contacted for commenting, Bilboes Holdings group geologist manager Mr Jones Bishi declined to comment on the issue and referred the reporter to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, provincial mining director (PMD) for Matabeleland North, Mr Farayi Ngulube.
In an interview, Mr Ngulube said the Nyoni Mine ownership was forfeited in 2017 as they were no longer paying the mine fee.
“It lapsed but this was not automatically, the procedure says there is chance for 30 days to make up. The mine fee had last been paid in 2004. It was subject to forfeiture from then. The process was not done until 2017, that’s when it was forfeited procedurally,” said Mr Ngulube.
He said the Nyoni Family Holdings were now trying to revive the mine, but it was no longer possible as it now belonged to Mr Makope. Mr Ngulube said the US$2 000 received 7 April 2021 was just an application in trying to repeg the mine.
“In considering that we realised that their site already has another mine. It was just a submission of an administration fee so that their application can be considered. That’s the receipt they have. Then we access the application of which we can reject or approve. If it’s acceptable we approve and give a certificate if it’s not we reject and advise,” he said.
In a letter on 24 June 2021 to Sijawuke community, Mr Ngulube said their letter was mostly of a civil/social relations issue and the local leadership with the assistance of law enforcement agents would be more qualified to handle them.
In terms of the mine, he said: “Innocent Makope holds a valid claims registration certificate number 17214BM.
However, Bilboes Holdings Private Limited has lodged a dispute over the mining title. The Provincial Mining Office is handling the case….”
However, contrary to the claim by the PMD’s office that the mine was forfeited in 2017, Mr Makope said he has been the owner of the mine since 2011.
“I have been mining in the area for the past 10 years. I consulted with the headman who was there in 2011 and the villagers gave me their blessings. I stopped mining for some time due to personal reasons and when l went back to mine sometime last year there were people who were trying to mine at my claim,” he said.
Mr Makope said he confronted them and they claimed to be from the Nyoni Family Holdings.
“They don’t even have a mining certificate. If they continue victimizing me, I will be forced to take legal action,” said Mr Makope.
