Rutendo Chirume
MBERENGWA-S. Grey 1 Mine in Mberengwa has approached the district authorities seeking permission to exhume and relocate graves situated within its gold mining claim.
In a letter dated July 29, 2026, addressed to Mberengwa Rural District Council, mine owner and director Ament Nyaya said the mine, operating under certificate number 30657 at Clonymore Farm Stand 241 in Yorks, Mberengwa, remained valid.
Nyaya said the company is seeking to exhume the graves because its gold deposit belt extended towards the grave site.
The miner said a site for reburial had been identified with the assistance of Chief Bute, who had agreed to the proposal.
Nyaya also said family members had agreed to the proposed relocation.
However, Mberengwa District Development Coordinator Vafios Hlabati said the relevant authorities had not yet been formally engaged on the matter.
“We have not been reached on the matter. There is need for proper paperwork to be done before the process can proceed. The fact that relatives have confirmed the matter does not mean that the required procedures can be bypassed,” said Hlabati.
The development comes as mining activities continue to expand in mineral-rich parts of Mberengwa, raising questions around the protection of burial sites and cultural heritage where mining claims overlap with graves.
In the letter, Nyaya said several government departments had been notified of the proposal and were awaiting instructions on how to proceed.
The correspondence was copied to the District General Mberengwa, Officer-in-Charge ZRP Mberengwa, Mberengwa Rural District Council, ZRP MFFU Zvishavane, the District Health Officer and the Ministry of Mines.
The miner is therefore seeking guidance from the responsible authorities before proceeding with the proposed exhumation and relocation.
