HARARE — A village head from Mashonaland West has approached the High Court seeking an urgent interdict to stop Pan Africa Mining (Pvt) Ltd from carrying out mining activities and constructing a dam along the Mupfure River, alleging the project threatens sacred cultural heritage sites linked to some of Zimbabwe's revered First Chimurenga heroes.

Permanent Secretary Raphael Faranisi says mining and blasting activities should not take place at cultural heritage sites, warning that the destruction of such locations threatens Zimbabwe's national identity and history.

Members of Zimbabwe’s Muslim community have laid down stringent conditions for the Chinese-owned Chengxi Mine before consenting to the exhumation of relatives buried at Peak Mine Cemetery in Shurugwi. The planned exhumations affecting dozens of graves dating back to the colonial era are part of efforts to pave the way for expanded gold mining operations in the Botorekwa Escarpments. Led by Sheikh Ishmail Duwa, president of the Halaal Certification Regulatory Board of Zimbabwe