Mavhuradonha chrome is ours: Chinese
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
CHINESE firm, Afrochine Smelting (Pvt) Ltd has filed a lawsuit against Earthlink Minerals (Pvt) Ltd for carrying out mining operations in Mavhuradonha Wilderness in Muzarabani district.
Afrochine cited Earthlink and Mines minister Winston Chitando, who it challenged to tell the court the truth regarding ownership of the controversial mining site.
The Zimbabwe chrome smelting giant has been accused of looting minerals from a protected area, damaging the main padlock at Mavuradonha Wilderness to gain entry and moving its excavators and other heavy machinery.
The Mavhuradonha Wilderness is a 600-square kilometre wildlife resort and has been maintained in its natural state since 1988 when the government designated it a protected area under the Communal Lands Act.
By Leopold Munhende in Muzarabani
A TRADITIONAL leader in Mashonaland Central province has, in a rare show of bravery, stood up and accused Chinese nationals in Zimbabwe of being behind the massive looting of the country’s mineral resources.
Chief Chiweshe, born Matthew Chitemamuswe, also accused the Chinese nationals of abusing the role China played in the liberation struggle for an independent Zimbabwe, to take Zimbabwe for granted and loot its vast mineral resources including chrome and gold.
He was speaking to journalists Saturday after a media tour of Mavuradonha Wilderness.
The traditional leader questioned how a Chinese mining company, Afrochine, had been allowed by the government to mine chrome ore in the belly of the iconic heritage site.
By Anna Chibamu
OPPOSITION MPs Wednesday demanded answers from leader of the house Ziyambi Ziyambi over government moves to evict some 12 000 families from their ancestral land in Chiredzi to pave way for a grass project by some white businessmen linked to the ruling elite.
Led by MDC Alliance MP for Harare East, Tendai Biti, the lawmakers wanted to know which government policy gave rights to Local Government minister July Moyo to seize the villagers’ land.
Some 12 500 families of the Xhangaan (Shangaan) communities of Chilonga in Chiredzi, Masvingo are about to be relocated to pave way for a Dendairy lucern grass project.