Proposed Sitting Works Plotting v Mining Lease 21 – Botha issues press statement amid revelations of overlay diagram showing misrepresentation

By staff reporter

A dispute over mining boundaries has deepened following fresh evidence suggesting that a Sitting of Works plan linked to Botha Gold Mine may have been forged to misrepresent its proposed operations, this publication has gathered.

In a publication dated April 28 this week, this publication reported that a senior survey official at the Ministry of Mines in Bindura, identified as Mutamba, had been accused by Freda Rebecca Gold Mine of processing an adulterated Sitting of Works plan.

The plan allegedly fraudulently places Botha Gold Mine’s proposed operations within the legally held mining boundaries of Freda Rebecca Gold Mine.

Following that report, Botha Gold Mine issued a press statement yesterday denying any allegations of fraud or forgery, dismissing the claims as unfounded.

However, in an effort to guide its professional reporting and establish the facts, this publication has now received a plotted overlay diagram said to have been relied on by Mutapa Gold Resources in objecting the EIA Addendum at EMA.

The sitting of works plan having been processed by Mutamba.

The diagram, now attached hereunder, forms the basis upon which this publication reported the alleged misrepresentation.

The overlayed survey diagram clearly indicates that the proposed Sitting of Works encroaches into Mining Lease 21, which is held by Freda Rebecca Gold Mine.

To ensure clarity and fairness, Botha Gold Mine is being called upon to plot its Botha 1-4 claims, said to cover not more than 40 hectares, against Mining Lease 21 to establish factual boundaries.

Below are the attached documents and Botha’s statement.