Probe Launched Into Bulilima Mining Activities

Published: 2016 June 13 09:08:43 (5091 Views)

BULILIMA Rural District Council has launched an investigation into mining activities taking place within the district. The local authority’s Chief Executive Officer, John Brown Ncube, said the local authority was due to meet officials from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to ascertain whether gold could be found in the district.

He said the RDC had not been formally informed about the presence of the yellow mineral and once it had been confirmed the council would take measures to control mining activities which had already commenced in the area. “As of now I can’t confirm or deny the existence of gold in the district as we’re still working on speculation. However, if indeed gold is there then that would be a huge development for the district as it will bring about development. “We’re also aware that some people are already digging in the district and once the existence of the yellow mineral has been confirmed we will deal with them accordingly after engaging the Ministry of Mines on the correct procedure,’’ he said.

Ncube said the local authority had recently visited districts that have mining activities in order to learn about the administration of mining activities. He said they were also yet to establish the exact location of the gold and the amount available.

Ncube said meetings will also be held with traditional leaders after the outcome in order to ensure that all mining activities remain transparent and legal. The yellow mineral was reportedly discovered by a villager in Village 30 area in Dombolefu Ward recently. A mining syndicate comprising of villagers from neighbouring Dombodema Ward has moved into the area. This has caused a conflict between villagers from Dombolefu and Dombodema over mining space. Villagers from Dombolefu area have appealed to their community leaders to evict villagers from the neighbouring ward saying they were supposed to benefit from resources within their ward.

The councillor for Dombolefu Ward, Morgen Ndebele, noted that a group of miners from Dombodema Ward were operating in the area while local villagers were not involved in the project.

Clr Ndebele said the miners had not consulted the leadership of Dombolefu Ward before engaging in their mining activities. He said it had also come to the attention of community leaders that miners who were not from Bulilima had already obtained licences to prospect in the area.

- Chronicle

Tags: Bulilima, Plumtree, gold, mining, ,

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