The deputy director of Zambezi Gas, Linos Masimura, told
Parliament on Monday that part of his company’s coal mining concession in
Hwange was unfairly cut and given to their competitor, Makomo Resources, which
is believed to be owned by Home Affairs and Culture minister Obert Mpofu.
Masimura made the remarks when he appeared before the Mines
and Energy Parliamentary Portfolio Committee chaired by Temba Mliswa to speak
on the company’s coal production in Hwange and to explain the cause of land
dispute between Zambezi Gas and Makomo Resources.
He claimed that 19 000 hectares of land belonging to
Zambezi Gas had been cleared and explored, but it was deceitfully wrested from
them and given to Makomo Resources.
Unverified information before the Mines Committee points to
Mpofu as the owner of Makomo Resources and the person who facilitated the
snatchinging of the explored 19 000 hectares of land from Zambezi Gas.
Mliswa alleged: “Around 19 000 hectares of the Zambezi Gas
portion was explored, but after exploration it went to Makomo Resources and
Zambezi Gas was left with a portion which was unexplored. Makomo Resources
allegedly belongs to Mpofu and information that we have as a committee is that
he used his powers to cut the Zambezi Gas concession to give it to Makomo
Resources.”
Masimura could not justify the allegations, but admitted
that 19 000 hectares of land which had been explored had been wrested from
Zambezi Gas and handed over to Makomo Resources.
Later in an interview with NewsDay after the committee
meeting, Masimura said: “Indeed there is a dispute over 19 000 hectares of
explored land which went to Makomo Resources. However, it could be speculation
that Mpofu owns Makomo Resources. I think it is an issue which needs further
investigations by the Mines Committee.”
Zambezi Gas began its operations in March 2017. Masimura
said when they began their operations, they were bedevilled by legacy debts,
but they cleared all debts by the end of 2017.
“We were at 30 000 tonnes of coal per month, but since
January our production is at 250 000 tonnes per month.”
He said, while most of the coal production was delivered to
Zesa, the challenges were the delays by the power company to pay for the
supplies. Newsday
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