The dispute over the gold claims in Chegutu turned fatal
last week when one man was shot dead after police tried to control a marauding
crowd of approximately 3 000 artisanal miners who wanted to stop the Deputy
Sheriff from evicting them.
The artisanal miners, who are part of the Danangwe District
Youth Mining Co-operative, have been embroiled in a dispute with Breekridge
Investments over the gold claims. The case, however, spilt into the High Court
which ruled against the artisanal miners.
In an interview, national police spokesperson Assistant
Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the death of Lovemore Feyani after the
skirmishes that followed when the Deputy Sheriff tried to evict the artisanal
miners.
“On April 25 this year, Mr Drian Mudimu, an Assistant
Sheriff, was accompanied by the police to evict some artisanal miners in
Chegutu but was confronted by at least 3 000 men who were resisting the
eviction order.
“The artisanal miners threatened the court official and
police fired teargas to disperse the rowdy crowd and, subsequently, fired shots
at the crowd which had turned violent leading to the death of one man,” he
said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police are, however, investigating
the case. He also urged artisanal miners
to resolve their differences without engaging in violent activities.
“What is important is for them to resolve their disputes
peacefully. This also includes the other stakeholders in the sector and we want
to urge them to play their part and work in peace and harmony with others,” he
said.
“The artisanal miners should also be reminded that that
there are certain procedures that need to be followed in resolving disputes
without resorting to violence.”
The Danangwe District Youth Mining Co-operative recently
vowed to take over the five blocks that are part of 61 claims believed to be
lying idle for alleged speculative purposes. The co-operative’s chairperson, Mr
Stewart Luckford, said their decision was informed by Government’s intentions
to repossess idle gold claims which he claimed had been lying idle since 1969.
He said Breekridge came in 2000 to do exploration and
displaced people between 2001 and 2002 but no mining had been taking place
since then.
“In 2010, we organised ourselves as youths and formed our
co-operative which was fully registered in 2014 and since then we have been
religiously contributing gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.”
He said the miners invested their funds to resuscitate the
mines abandoned several years ago. Mr Luckford said the youths were ready to
work with the company suing them as long as the five blocks were secured.
Mashonaland West provincial Chiefs’ Council chairman
Senator Chief Ngezi also called for dialogue between the company and the
co-operative.
“They should come to the negotiating table. They might
claim the claims but the youths are also bona fide citizens who should benefit
from the country’s natural resources.
“I once assisted Breekridge to resolve a dispute with a
farmer when they wanted to construct a road through his farm and the issue was
solved amicably so the same can be done at the mine,” he said.
Government has raised concern over claims held for
speculative purposes across the country. Herald
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