Chrome mining and smelting company, Afrochine Smelting, has
been taken to the High Court by NR Barber (Private) Ltd, for allegedly
unlawfully removing its chrome ore worth US$7 million.
Afrochine Smelting is a subsidiary of Tsingshan Iron and
Steel Group of China and has chrome smelters in Selous near Chegutu.
It is being sued alongside Diamond Cement (Pvt) Ltd and
Wonder Mavengano for the unlawful removal of 109 950,86 tonnes worth US$70 per
tonne.
“The total quantity of the ore unlawfully removed is 109
950,86 tonnes whose value is claimed at the market value rate at date of
summons being US$70 per tonne,” NR Barber, which is under judicial management,
said in court papers.
According to NR Barber, the cited defendants in the matter
professes to carry on the business of prospecting for mining and trading in
minerals and mineral ores in the country, but at all material times, ownership
of all ore extracted within NR Barber’s blocks belonged to the company.
“None of the defendants (Afrochine Smelting, Diamond Cement
and Mavengano) has any right to enter upon the site of the claim or any right
to the ore won from the claim,” NR Barber said.
“Sometime between 2016 and December 2018, the defendants
wrongfully and unlawfully entered upon the location of Mzila 6 Mine claim and
without plaintiff’s consent, approval or knowledge took several consignments of
chrome ore extracted from the said claim,” the firm said.
“The acts of the first, second and third defendants were
illegal and defendants had no right at law to act in the manner they did and
must each be held jointly and severally liable, compensating the plaintiff for
the loss suffered as a result of the unlawful removal of its chrome.” Newsday
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