ZANU PF secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa says the ruling party will take over operations at the highly contested, gold-rich Redwing Mine in Penhalonga claiming it is being mismanaged.
Chinamasa made the remarks on Sunday while launching ZANU PF’s by-election campaign for Mutasa South constituency where Misheck Mugadza will stand against Regai Tsunga of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in the March 26 polls.
He said the mine would be given to artisanal miners affiliated with the ruling ZANU PF. The former long-serving cabinet minister said:
It is not our problem as government about what is happening at the mine, but it is the problem of the investor. When I am back in Harare, I am going to approach President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Ministry of Finance so that we can buy and take over the mine by the end of the year.
The government will then engage illegal miners because we want orderly mining here in Penhalonga.
About two weeks ago, over 200 Redwing workers demonstrated against attempts by the judicial management to reinstate Betterbrands Mining Company (BMC) led by Pedzisai ‘Scot’ Sakupwanya. BMC operated the mines from 2018 until November 2021, when the tributary mining operations were halted.
The workers said they preferred Metallon Gold while resisting efforts by the interim corporate rescue practitioner Knowledge Hofisi to impose BMC mining company.
Centre for Research and Development director James Mupfumi yesterday said Chinamasa’s remarks were merely meant to entice the electorate.
Mupfumi said the same government is allowing gold barons to invade the same Redwing Mine. He called upon Parliament to summon Redwing and investigate the issue of gold leakages that has allegedly been happening since 2018.
More: Pindula News