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Mzinyathini villagers in Umzingwane, Matabeleland South are up in arms against a miner they accuse of pegging his mining claims on their farmland.

Ward 3 village co-ordinator David Mpofu confirmed the developments to Newsday’s Southern Eye saying the miner was making life unbearable for the villagers and threatening to shoot them.

Mpofu said the miner, France Ndlovu, popularly known as Leeboff pegged his mining claims on villagers’ farmland and boasts of protection from top authorities.

“We are tired of artisanal miners who cause havoc within our villages. Ndlovu has become a thorn in the flesh. He goes around claiming areas that are rich in gold deposits. He is trying to halt an irrigation initiative that is meant to benefit the whole community,” Mpofu said.

“We tried to call a meeting with him, but he did not turn up even though we had assured him that the police would be present to show him that we were not fighting him. What puzzles us is that after two days, he showed up with some certificates claiming that the place was his, but he did not physically show us what was on the certificates. Leeboff came with armed security, and villagers were not happy with the developments.”

Ward 3 village head, Jeboy Luvuno said farming was the only source of living for the villagers, adding that taking away their farmland would drive them into poverty.

“If the land is snatched away from us, then we have nowhere to turn to. When Leeboff came to claim our land, we relied on agriculture to fend for our families. Without our small portions of farmland, we cannot survive. If the law cannot protect us, then who can be our shadow,” he said.

Luvuno said Leeboff boasted that he was being backed by the government and the Chinese; hence it was good for the villagers to give up their land.

But Ndlovu denied mining on villagers’ fields, adding that he was doing his business on idle land.

“I am not mining on people’s farming land, but l pegged my mine on idle land that was deserted for over 10 years. I never threatened anyone, but l brought law enforcers as witnesses. It seems there is an individual who is up in arms with me and is influencing others to fight me. I do my activities following proper procedures, but these people who want to do gold panning are blocking my way, yet I envisage uplifting the community,” Ndlovu said.

He said the so-called irrigation scheme that the villagers claimed they had been working on started when he told the villagers that he had pegged a mine in the area.

“I work alone; it is a lie that I’m backed by the Chinese. I am not chasing away anyone because my desire is to help the community,” he said.

Matabeleland South mining director, Khumbulani Mlangeni said mining activities were not allowed on farmland.

“According to the Mines and Minerals Act, no one is allowed to prospect on arable land. The affected individuals should lodge a written complaint with the office to ensure that the issue is investigated and corrective action taken,” Mlangeni said.

There have been calls for Ministries of Mines, and local authorities to work together in issuing land as land disputes grow.

Newsday

Gold prices fell to a one-month low on Monday, as US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s stance to continue with aggressive monetary policy to bring down inflation dented the zero-yielding metal’s appeal and boosted the dollar.

Spot gold had shed 0.7% to $1 724.88 per ounce by 05:50 GMT. Prices earlier fell to $1 720.55, their lowest since July 27.

US gold futures dropped 0.8% to $1 736.40/oz.

The dollar index scaled a 20-year high, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for buyers holding other currencies.

Gold’s momentum has turned lower and while at some point there will be a safe-haven flow, investors are currently focusing on interest rates remaining high, said Matt Simpson, a senior market analyst at City Index.

In a speech kicking off the Jackson Hole central banking conference in Wyoming on Friday, Powell said the Fed would raise rates as high as needed and would keep them there “for some time” to bring down inflation. He also warned of “some pain” to households and businesses.

Echoing the Fed chief’s stance, European Central Bank board member Isabel Schnabel said central banks must act forcefully to combat inflation, even if that drags their economies into a recession.

While gold is often considered a safe haven during financial uncertainties, it is highly sensitive to rising US interest rates, which increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion while boosting the dollar.

“Gold is probably heading towards $1 700 and has room to go to $1 680. You can get some buyers stepping in around the $1 680 level to support the market and back up to $1 750,” Simpson added.

Spot silver fell 1.4% to $18.61 per ounce, platinum dipped 1% to $854.66 and palladium was flat at $2 110.39.

Mining Weekly

The panic that gripped the diamond world this year is starting to unwind as sanctioned Russian mining giant Alrosa PJSC has quietly revived exports to near pre-war levels, Bloomberg has reported.

Alrosa accounts for about a third of global rough-diamond supply, and the $80 billion industry was thrown into turmoil as cutters, polishers and traders hunted for ways to keep buying from Russia while their banks couldn’t or wouldn’t finance payments. The sudden shortage of stones sent diamond prices surging, especially for the smaller and cheaper gems that Alrosa specializes in.

Now, after months of paralysis when it was hit with US sanctions, Alrosa is back selling more than $250 million of diamonds a month, with sales currently only about $50 to $100 million a month below pre-war levels, according to people familiar with the matter. The sales have restarted as some Indian banks become more comfortable with how to facilitate transactions in currencies other than US dollars, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.

Most of the Russian stones are heading to manufacturers in India — the biggest among a handful of industry hubs, where hundreds of mostly family-owned businesses cut and polish rough stones into the finished products, ready to be used in earrings and engagement rings. Alrosa has been selling diamonds to buyers in India and Europe, mostly in exchange for rupees, the people said.

There is no indication that any sales have breached sanctions or laws. But there is still a widespread unease about the implications of dealing in Russian goods, said the people. The deals are being done quietly — even by the closed-doors standards of the famously secretive diamond world — and Alrosa has stopped publishing any information on its sales or financial performance.

A spokesperson for Alrosa declined to comment.

The return of one of the world’s main sources of precious gems will be a relief to the manufacturers and traders who rely on its stones. However, rough-diamond prices were already showing signs of softening in response to a worsening economic outlook, and the increased supply is adding further weakness.

Source: Bloomberg