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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
A technical team from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development would be at Arizona 33 and 45 mine tomorrow seeking to resolve the wrangle over the control of a suspected gold rich section of the mine that has sucked in Douglas Msipa, son of former Midlands Governor, Cephas Msipa.

Last week eight men were hospitalised after dynamite was allegedly thrown at them down a shaft at the disputed mine by a gang believed to be aligned to Douglas.

The contested mine is about 40km outside Gweru.

It has since emerged that the case of Douglas and his alleged workers from Arizona 33 was referred back to the police for further investigations by Area Prosecutor, Brian Mzemba contrary to claims that they were never arrested.

Sources at the court said the docket was charging Douglas and his alleged accomplices with assault and theft of ore.

“However, since the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is still to determine the actual owner of the area where the ore was mined, the court couldn’t proceed to charge them. So they’re waiting for the determination from technical experts. On the assault charge, it was agreed that since it’s alleged that explosives were used, the charge couldn’t be mere assault. So the docket was sent back to the police for further investigations,” said a source at the Gweru courts.

Arizona 33 and 45 owners are now expected to meet with the ministry of mines team at the mining site along Matobo road. Peter Matole, the owner of Arizona 33 and Raymond Chinouya, a manager for Arizona 45 owned by Jacob Chokururama, both confirmed receiving letters indicating that they should be present when the mining directors arrive to solve the dispute.

Arizona 33 and 45 mine share the same gold belt and also share some tunnels underground as it was once one mine.

The letter dated June 25 to the feuding parties from the Acting Provincial Mining Director, a K Mlangeni, was referenced “Dispute between Mr Chokururama (Arizona 45 Mine) and Mr P Matole (Arizona 33 Mine).

“Following a meeting that was held at the Provincial Mining Director’s office on the 25th of June in the presence of all parties, this office wishes to advise that the technical officers will carry out a site visit to the above mentioned mines on 1st July 2015 at 10AM. All parties are to attend without fail, parties to meet at the disputed area,” reads part of the letter.

“Meanwhile, all parties should resume mining operations but they should only mine within the confines of their claims boundaries and they should adhere to the provisions of the Mining (Management and Safety) regulations, S.I 109 of 1990.”

The Chronicle visited the two mines over the weekend where Matole indicated that he was the sole owner of Arizona 33. He said that Douglas had only invested in the venture by supplying a compressor.

He said he had been at the mine for more than eight years. “Msipa (Douglas) only came in with a compressor and we pay him for using it,” he said.

Matole said they had been facing problems with his neighbours at number 45 over an area he said was State land.

He said they had the right to mine it but Chokururama was allegedly sending his workers to disrupt their operations and stealing their ore.

Matole said he was happy that the mining director was coming tomorrow to try to solve the dispute.

He denied allegations that his team threw dynamite down the shaft arguing that Chokururama was fabricating charges to frame them.

“We share the same gold belt, the same tunnels and we’ve been having problems with these guys who steal our ore underground. They’ve been accusing us of encroaching into their area but we’re certain that we’re mining in our zone,” said Matole.

He said last week, they were shocked to see police officers pouncing on them accusing them of throwing dynamites and stealing ore.

“We were arrested by police officers from Kwekwe yet this area is under Gweru. We went to court and they told us that they would proceed by way of summons. There’s really no story but mere fabrications on the part of Chokururama,” Matole said.

On the other hand, Chinouya accused Douglas of using Matole to encroach onto their side.

He said as owners of Arizona 45, they did not expect to see Matole’s miners mining on their side.

“Msipa has told us that he invested in the mine (Arizona 33) and that he can’t just watch and let us mine his ore. We mine on our side but Matole and his employees have been causing havoc against us and we even alerted the mining director and he’s coming on July 1 to try to solve this dispute,” said Chinouya.