ZANU PF WARS|| Mudha’s Bitter Nephew Bars Rival’s Supporters from G&P Pit in Kwekwe

The prevalent ZANU PF intraparty fights in Kwekwe town continue to spiral to mind-boggling levels amid reports that miner-turned-politician, Energy Dhala Ncube, has been barring party supporters aligned to a rival politician from panning gold at the ‘disused’ Globe and Phoenix Pit- a mining claim he runs albeit a Government ban on the execution of mining operations at the place.

According to reports from the Midlands town, Dhala, who is also the nephew of humiliatingly deposed former state security minister Owen ‘Mudha’ Ncube, has put in place a blanket ban on supporters aligned to the party’s 2018 candidate and cleric Archbishop Kandros Mugabe of Zvipo ZveMweya Apostolic Church.

The pair of Dhala and Archbishop Mugabe had their hopes of contesting for the Kwekwe Central seat in the upcoming March 26 by-elections dashed into ashes after Zanu PF dismissed their CVs at the eleventh hour in January this year.

After they were barred from representing the party in the by-elections, the two publicly claimed that they had buried the hatchet and pledged their support for former Kwekwe deputy mayor, John Mapurazi, who eventually won the sole ZANU PF Kwekwe Central candidature amid an outcry.

In the run-up to the fast-approaching by-elections set for Saturday 26 March 2022, Archbishop Mugabe and Dhala have been complimenting Mapurazi with pre-electoral support- accompanying him to rallies around the town.

But, Zanu PF supporters who spoke to this publication said the Dhala camp was barring them from panning for the precious metal at the ‘banned’ G&P Pit.

“We were barred from entering the mine by security details who accused us of being pro-Mugabe supporters,” said a pro-Zanu PF illegal miner who spoke to this reporter.

“It is really sad that we are being sidelined on the basis of our allegiance to someone who is an executive member of the Zanu PF Kwekwe District Coordinating Committee (DCC). After Mapurazi was declared the ruling party’s official candidate, we all thought that we were now moving in the same train and that the move had united the party after those fights at Kwekwe district headquarters.”

Government Ban Ignored

Illegal mining operations at Globe and Phoenix continue despite a Government ban, over two years ago. On 8 February 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Government announced that it had banned mining operations at Globe and Phoenix Mine citing safety reasons.

In 2021, Mnangagwa’s Government gave Kuvimba Mining House the nod to acquire Globe and Phoenix Gold Mine and other associated mines owned by an Australian company, Biometallurgical (Pvt) Ltd.

Over a year has now passed since Kuvimba, which has a 100% stake in Shamva Gold Mine, was given the greenlight to run G&P Mine.

Kuvimba is owned 65% by the government of Zimbabwe, and 35% owned by management and international partners, who are led by David Brown, a world-class mining executive and mining entrepreneur.

Announcing the acquisition last year, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said:

“Government has been informed by the management of Kuvimba Mining House that it has made an offer to acquire Globe and Phoenix Mine. Government as the majority shareholder in Kuvimba has endorsed this transaction, and looks forward to this new asset contributing to the group. Kuvimba’s performance will contribute immensely to the achievement of a US$12 billion mining sector by 2023.”

At the time of publishing, Dhala could not be reached for comment on the matter.

Zwnews