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Showdown looms in Chimanimani
Costa Mano, The Herald (Zimbabwe)
March 07, 2006

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=559&cat=1&livedate=3/7/2006

A SHOWDOWN is looming between the Chimanimani Rural District Council and the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority over the council’s decision to peg alluvial gold mining claims within a wildlife sanctuary.

On Tuesday last week, council employees were barred from entering Chimanimani National Park to peg mining claims and were again blocked for the second time two days later.

"I cannot believe the reasoning of the council and the logic behind its intentions. The area they want to peg does, indeed, have gold as there were reports of illegal gold panning in the area, but it falls under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority," said a National Parks source.

The council’s move came shortly after gold panners, who were caught digging along Bundi River in the Skeleton Pass area, were found with some 400 grammes of the mineral worth over $800 million.

The Bundi is the main river within Chimanimani National Park and most of the major attractions in the park are found along it.

Over 10 sites within the park have been illegally panned before, but this is the first time the council has tried to peg claims in the park.

Asked for comment, Chimanimani Rural District Council treasurer Mrs Jennifer Muriro said the local authority had a right to peg claims in the National Parks area.

However, she said the council had sent the group in question to assess the situation in the panning zone.

"The council has the legal authority and control over Chimanimani’s alluvial gold systems and, as such, we do not see any reason why we should not peg the claims and hand out panning permits to those we see as capable," she said.

She said that just as the council had control over panning activities on Tarka Estate, it could do the same within the National Parks area.

She, however, acknowledged receiving a letter from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority detailing the procedure they, as council, should follow. But reports say when council employees tried to enter the park; they did not have the required papers, which included a prospecting licence from the Ministry of Mines.

"Gold takes precedence over everything and, as you know, the country needs the gold," said Mrs Muriro.

Chimanimani National Park senior warden Mr Onias Bepe refused to comment, saying he was waiting for his superiors to discuss the issue.

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