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Nduduzo Tshuma/Temba Dube Senior Reporters
THE country could be prejudiced of thousands of dollars in what is seen as “looting” of gold at Doves area in Inyathi, Bubi District, after the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development described the month long rush as illegal.The holder of the claim, Baron Dube who has allowed panners to work on the claim on condition they share gold with him on a 60/40 percent arrangement, has only submitted papers for registration and is yet to be granted permission to start mining.

According to a letter written by then mining commissioner Florence Lindiwe Thusi to Inyathi police officer in charge only identified as Chief Inspector Sibanda and dated June 19, three days after the start of the gold rush, Dube had submitted papers of registration but had no permission to operate.

“Please note that Mr Baron Dube has submitted papers for registration under receipt number 036703 and he is at liberty to have people look after the pegged mine. Work should not commence until the certificate is received,” read a letter by Thusi.

“Surveyors are scheduled to visit the mine site beginning of week of the 23rd June 2014. This is to curb environmental damage in the area.”

Yesterday, acting Matabeleland North provincial mining director Julius Moyo confirmed that Dube had not been granted permission to mine in the area but would not disclose more details.

“We received an application from Dube and it is still being looked at so he has not yet been certified,” said Moyo.

Independent investigations by this paper established that Dube’s applications in the register are numbers 34, 37, 39 and 40.

“Applications are handled on a first come first serve basis. Dube’s applications have not been certified so he should not be conducting any mining activities,” said an official from the ministry who requested anonymity.

“First it has to be established that the area is not pegged by someone else so our surveyors have to visit the place and come up with a report. The surveyor would then make recommendations towards the applications before the process of certification.”

The official said if one does not have a certificate to mine, they should not engage in any extraction activities. “When one is operating illegally what the ministry can do is to report him or her to the police.

“The ministry only deals with registered miners, the illegal miners are handled by the police,” the official said.

After the certification, the official said, a miner has to go to the Environmental Management Agency for an environmental impact assessment report before mining can start.

Dube professed ignorance on the fact he was conducting illegal mining operations.

“The problem is that we are digging in many areas in Inyathi so I don’t know which area you are talking about,” he said.

When told that the particular area was number 12 Induba Farm, Dube said, “I’m not good with names of areas so I don’t know. I have not heard about the incidents of violence either.”

No comment could be obtained from Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese who was said to be out of office.

Chief Inspector Sibanda also said he did not know about the matter. “I don’t know that, you as the reporter, if you want news, you know where to find the information,” he said.

Collen Maphosa who is running the farm which has been invaded by the illegal panners, said his family has been aware that there was gold on the farm, since 2012.

He produced an offer letter for the farm. The farm belongs to his brother-in-law Thembinkosi Khumalo who has since given him power of attorney to run the farm, since he is outside the country.

“My daughter, a geologist based in England, told us there was gold on the farm two years ago. We were in the process of registering a claim when the illegal activities started,” said Maphosa.

He said he approached commissioner Thusi on June 22, about the illegal activities on the farm and she told him that police had been notified of the activities.

“I went to see the officer in charge of Inyathi Police Station and he told me Baron had registered claims the previous Friday. I told him that it was impossible because the mines office was closed on that day,” he  said. “I’m ready to contest Dube’s claim in court as I have since discovered that it is difficult to deal with Inyathi police,” said Maphosa, who has since obtained a prospecting licence.