Gwanda, Zimbabwe – In a move that highlights the staggering gap between President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “Open for Business” rhetoric and the reality of lawlessness on the ground, the recently resuscitated Vubachikwe Gold Mine has been plunged into chaos.
A coordinated invasion involving over 200 youths, allegedly backed by ZANUPF heavyweights, has effectively seized control of the ML16 mining lease, leaving the future of the British-owned operation hanging in the balance.
The Face of the Invasion: Moses Langa Named
At the heart of this “brazen and unlawful” takeover is Moses Langa, the ZANUPF Matabeleland South Provincial Youth Chairperson and MP for Insiza North. According to explosive court papers filed by the mine’s owners, Forbes & Thompson (Bulawayo) (Pvt) Ltd, Langa is the primary architect of the incursion that began on January 17, 2026.
Legal documents obtained by ZiMetro News indicate that Langa, accompanied by Aldonia Gondo and a mob of hundreds, forcibly entered the mining location with heavy machinery, including tippers and front-end loaders. The group has reportedly pitched tents and commenced illegal excavation of ore, claiming political immunity.
A Mockery of the Rule of Law
The invasion is happening just kilometers away from the site of this year’s national Independence Day celebrations, casting a dark shadow over the festivities.
“Since 1983, the Applicant has always had peaceful and undisturbed possession of the mining location… Their actions, undertaken without any lawful cause or authority, include the illegal entry with heavy machinery,” the court application for spoliation reads.
Witnesses report that Langa addressed the mob on January 15 and 19, allegedly name-dropping the First Family and ZANUPF headquarters to assure the youths they were “above the law” and faced no risk of arrest.
“Uncountable Tons” Looted
The scale of the looting is industrial. Sources reveal that “uncountable tons” of gold-bearing ore are being carted away in trucks to a plant at White Farm, allegedly owned by a prominent local gold dealer.
While a token police raid on January 21 led to the temporary seizure of some equipment, the invaders remain entrenched. Efforts to dislodge them have been met with violent resistance, with reports of police tear gas failing to deter the mob. The situation escalated further when the invaders blocked main access roads, even halting convoys carrying vital flood relief aid.
The High Court Battle
Forbes & Thompson has now approached the High Court of Zimbabwe in an urgent chamber application for spoliation (Case No HCH…/26). The company argues that their four-decade-long possession of the mine has been “violently shattered.”
The legal move seeks to restore the mine to its rightful owners and eject the invaders, who are currently causing permanent damage to the underground infrastructure. The company warns that the illegal blasting and uncoordinated digging toward the Gold Duck Shaft pose a massive risk of ground collapse.
Denial and Defiance
When reached for comment, MP Moses Langa dismissed the allegations as “baseless.” “I am a law-abiding public officer who respects the rule of law,” Langa claimed, despite being personally named as the first respondent in the High Court papers. He further denied meeting Ministry of Mines officials to formalize the occupation, despite reports that he led a delegation to see Minister Polite Kambamura on January 19.
Investor Confidence in Shambles
This latest crisis at Vubachikwe—a mine that only recently clawed its way back into operation after a violent 2022 strike—serves as a grim reminder of the risks facing foreign investors in Zimbabwe.
With property rights seemingly subject to the whims of political “heavyweights,” the message to the international community is clear: in Zimbabwe, political muscle often trumps the gavel of the court.
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