Africa-Press – Eswatini. Victor Ndlovu, the Managing Director and owner of Mwelase Mining has confirmed the closure of Ngwenya Mine amid an alleged sabotage by a powerful political and business syndicate which he alleged, is linked to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy particularly, Commissioner of Mines Dr. Noah Nhleko.
Responding on Sunday, the Managing Director said he “has been facing sabotage ever since he started operating the Mine” adding that, at some point, he would spent money funding the operation but, agents of the Commissioner of Mines would emerge and order the off-loading of the mineral from the train thus undermining his credibility and international market confidence to deliver the mineral as per agreements.
“The Mine has been closed and the mineral was off-loaded from the train by agents of the Commissioner of Mines. What is happening here is that the Commissioner of Mines Nhleko has been sabotaging the operations, he intentionally withdrew the export permit. So even if we can continue with the mining, we are unable to export it to the market so without the export permit, the operations within the Mine have been literally grounded”, said the Ngwenya Mine Managing Director.
Reached for comments by this publication, Dr. Noah Nhleko, the Commissioner of Mines clarified that “the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has nothing to do with the halting of operations within the Ngwenya Mine” but, there’s an internal dispute within the mining company that ended-up in court.
The Commissioner of Mines further clarified that, the Ministry was willing to renew the expired export permit but, there’s a court judgement directing all Directors of the company to apply for the renewal after a company resolution and therefore, the Ministry will wait for an application for renewal with the company resolution attached as part of the application documents.
“I believe he was party to this matter where judgement was passed that all decisions concerning management and business affairs should be made jointly and be written. Otherwise the export permit expired and for its renewal a written document regarding that involving his partner would be welcome. Further, as far as I am aware the company is involved in litigation of some sort,” said the Commissioner of Mines.
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