A CONSORTIUM believed to be fronting for United Family
International Church (UFIC) leader Emmanuel Makandiwa is bidding to take over
the distressed Shamva Gold Mine in Mashonaland Central province.
According to documents shown to NewsDay, Havillah Gold
bought the Shamva Mine processing plant after it was auctioned by the High
Court last week as the Mzi Khumalo-owned Metallon Gold empire continues to face
challenges.
Makandiwa is said to have visited the mine twice last week
before news filtered that he had acquired the entire milling plant for an
undisclosed sum believed to be running into millions of dollars.
NewsDay is in possession of a letter written by one Zondi
Kumwenda to the Shamva Mine management notifying them of the purchase.
The letter was also copied to Mines minister Winston
Chitando. “We would like to formally advise you that Havillah Gold recently
acquired the gold processing plant at your Shamva Mine via auction. The
acquisition excludes the resource, which we understand is in the hands of the
existing shareholders,” the letter reads.
“After the sale by the Sheriff under High Court
instruction, the buyer has the liberty to immediately remove the plant, but,
however, the plant was bought with the Shamva community in mind …”
Contacted for comment, Makandiwa’s spokesperson Prime Kufa
denied the charismatic preacher’s involvement, but confirmed Havillah Gold was
a company run by people receiving business mentorship from Makandiwa.
“The prophet is advising them to negotiate with Metallon
for a takeover of the operations and the resource and not to remove the processing
plant for the sake of the community, whose majority is employed by the mine,”
Kufa said.
“Being a man of God and a father, I believe it is his
desire not to see the mine shut down and leave thousands of people unemployed.
That is as far as his involvement goes.”
Metallon Gold, which at its peak contributed over 35% of
the country’s gold output per year, has of late been struggling to stay afloat
and pay off its creditors, leading to the attachment of the company’s property.
The mining company recently retrenched the bulk of its
workforce as part of cost-cutting measures.
Operations at the struggling company’s Jumbo Mine in Mazowe
have also stopped due to litigation from various creditors.
An auction for the mine’s plant, machinery and other
movable assets is taking place today. Newsday
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