By Nigel Pfunde
Arcturus- PROMINENT businessman and lawyer Tawanda Nyambirai is reportedly under siege following an illegal invasion last month of his TN Arcturus Mine, which he acquired from Metallon Gold and successfully revived into a vibrant mining operation.
Mining what is his: Tawanda Nyambirai pictured wearing PPE at his mine that is under siege
Alleged illegal invaders, led by one Brian Mnangagwa and two accomplices, have reportedly encroached onto a portion of the mine, erecting wooden cabins and cordoning off the claim with a security fence.
Nyambirai has expressed deep distress over the ‘hostile takeover’, questioning why law enforcement agencies have failed to evict the intruders despite a reported intervention request from the Ministry of Mines. He lamented that the authorities have failed to act despite the matter being brought urgently to their attention.
Taking to social media to voice his frustration over the impunity surrounding the incident, Nyambirai posted on X (formerly Twitter), asking:
“How does one deal with this?”
Retracing on the history of the property, Nyambirai categorically stated that the asset had been completely defunct and shut down in February 2016 prior to his acquisition.
He described the site at the time as completely mined out, lacking even a basic processing plant or operational infrastructure.
Through heavy capital injection, he revived the operation into a thriving entity, only for it to become the target of the current alleged invasion.
“The mine was shut down in February 2016 before I bought it. It was completely mined out. There was no plant. Nothing. I revived it to the mine everyone now covets,” he said.
In response to the takeover, Nyambirai sought urgent legal recourse through the High Court to halt the invasion. However, the legal bid was inexplicably struck off the roll last week after Justice Isaac Muzenda ruled that the founding affidavit was largely based on hearsay evidence.
Despite the setback, pictorial evidence documenting the temporary structures and perimeter fence erected by the alleged invaders remains accessible.
Detailing the initial breach, mine security head Tapiwa Shiri stated that on September 27, a group of men occupied the claims and immediately commenced the construction of wooden cabins and a security fence around the disputed perimeter.
During court proceedings, the first three respondents Blessing Mnangagwa, Tapiwa Munozangara, and Kennel Ncube challenged the application, arguing that Shiri’s affidavit improperly relied on information relayed by third parties who had failed to provide corroborating supporting affidavits.
The outcome has triggered discussion, with legal analysts raising serious reservations over the ruling and fueling speculation regarding the influence of a third force and political influence of the alleged invaders.
Weighing in on the court judgment and ongoing siege, one legal analyst who preffered anonymity condemned the takeover attempt:
“Nyambirai lawfully bought the mining rights from Metallon Gold and that is on recors, but the invaders are clearly using their political muscle and proximity to power to wrestle an astute businessman and law-abiding citizen.”
