Exclusive
A senior survey official at the Ministry of Mines in Bindura, identified only as Mutamba, has been accused of processing an adulterated Siting of Works Plan that fraudulently places Botha Gold Mine’s proposed operations within the legally held mining boundaries of Freda Rebecca Gold Mine (FRGM), according to documents seen by this publication.
The explosive claims come as FRGM, a subsidiary of Mutapa Gold Resources, has formally lodged a hard objection with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) against an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Addendum submitted by Botha Gold Mine, operated by Side Electricals (Private) Limited.In a stinging letter dated April 2026, FRGM alleges that a forged Siting of Works Plan — inconsistent with the legitimate mining certificate and covering approximately 31 hectares — was “smuggled” into the Addendum submitted to the Director General’s office.
“It has been brought to FRGM’s attention that an adulterated and forged Siting of Works Plan… has been smuggled into the Addendum submitted to your office,” reads part of the objection letter.
“This plan purports to place Botha’s proposed works within the boundaries of ML21, which is legally held by FRGM.”
Multiple sources familiar with the matter have pointed to Mutamba, a survey officer attached to the Ministry’s Bindura office, as the person who allegedly processed the irregular plan.
Her role at the Survey department, sources say, gave her direct access to cadastral data and plan authentication procedures.FRGM holds Mining Lease No. 21 (ML21), which shares a border with Botha Claims 1-4.
The company insists Botha has “no mining rights, title, or legal interest whatsoever within ML21” — a position confirmed under oath by Provincial Mining Director Tendai Kashiri in an affidavit dated 22 April 2026.
Kashiri swore that Botha “has never acquired any mining rights within Mining Lease 21.”FRGM has now petitioned the Director General to intervene, arguing that an EIA cannot be used “as an instrument to confer mining rights or to legalize invasion of a mining title held by another party.”
“The inclusion of ML21 ground in Botha’s EIA Addendum is irregular, unlawful, and prejudicial to FRGM’s proprietary rights,” the letter states.
Efforts to reach Mutamba for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication. The Ministry of Mines had not issued an official response.
Botha officer Danny Tasara said:” I dont want to comment on these issues. Please can you talk to our legal department”
The development raises fresh questions about the security of mining titles in Zimbabwe’s gold-rich greenstone belts, where boundary disputes have increasingly turned violent.
Legal experts say the alleged forgery, if proven, could constitute a criminal offence under the Mines and Minerals Act.
FRGM is praying for the Director General’s urgent intervention to block Botha’s application in so far as it seeks authorization within ML21.
