The Sunday News
THREE gold mining companies operating in Bubi district in Matabeleland North province have come under fire for allegedly changing names in order to evade paying pledges they made towards the Community Share Ownership Trust Scheme in 2012.
In an interview, Bubi District chief executive Mr Patson Mlilo said three mines operating in the district namely Casmyn, Duration Gold, and Isabella had each pledged to inject up to $1 million seed capital to bankroll community development projects but were yet to honour the pledges.
“We have three mines operating here in Bubi namely Casmyn, Duration Gold and Isabella. The companies pledged $1 million but are not contributing much to the trust. But the mines have changed names and Duration Gold Mine is now called Imviga and Casmyn is now called Turk Mine and Isabella has been renamed Bilboes. I think they want to do away with the old names so that they can avoid paying money they pledged during the share ownership scheme,” said Mr Mlilo.
He said soon after the launch of the trust, the mines contributed little before they stopped.
“Long back they used to give us but they are no longer doing so. The only company that is giving us something is Turk Mine while the other two are not,” said Mr Mlilo.
He said the company was remitting about $25 000 per quota.
Mr Mlilo said efforts to get the money were proving difficult as the companies claimed that they were facing operational challenges.
He said if they could get the money, it would go a long way in alleviating poverty in the area.
The chief executive officer showed this paper one of the cheques presented by one of the companies, Duration Gold mine in 2012, pledging to give $1 million to the trust.
Bubi district administrator Mr Tapiwa Zivovoyi added that mining companies in the area were not fullfilling their pledges.
President Mugabe launched the scheme at the Hwange Colliery Stadium in 2012 and Chief Mtshana Khumalo was chosen to chair the Bubi trust.
Under the arrangement, local communities were entitled to 10 percent of shares in mining operations in their areas as provided for in the indigenisation regulations.
Contacted for comment at their Bulawayo offices last week, a Duration Gold Mine official, who refused to give his full name but had initially introduced himself as Mr Smithwick, said they were no longer running the company that pledged to the Community Share Ownership Trust Scheme in 2012
“We have nothing to do with that Trust. The mine was taken over by Imviga and it’s no longer part of Duration Gold Mine,” he said
He, however, said the pledge was made on condition that it would be hounoured if it makes profits.
He said they were in contact with the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development over the issue.
Sunday Business phoned the Casmyn Mine in Bulawayo and one of the company officials, who did not identify herself, referred this reporter to their office in Turk Mine.
“As the HR we have no jurisdiction to comment over such matters and you can talk to the corporate affairs office ,” said an official from the company.
