Highlanders loses Inyathi gold mine claim, seeks renewal

Highlanders fumbled a gold claim, lost it on paperwork, and are scrambling with authorities to claw it back.

Mining claim mess

• Highlanders is chasing a lapsed mining licence.
• The asset was the Inyathi gold mine.
• The grant died after no renewal filing.
• Another applicant already grabbed the ground.

How the deal started

• Emmerson Mnangagwa greenlit the claim.
• The move aimed to boost club income.
• The timing lined up with a milestone anniversary.
• Expectations were sky high at kickoff.

What went wrong internally

• Progress on the site dragged badly.
• A proposed partner failed leadership checks.
• Momentum stalled after early groundwork.
• Bureaucracy caught up fast.

Steps taken before the lapse

• A mining committee was formed.
• A separate mining company got registered.
• Surveys and geological work were completed.
• A bankable report existed on paper.

Official club stance

• Kenneth Mhlophe confirmed the grant expired.
• Management is talking with the authorities.
• Reinstatement remains the target.
• No guarantees are on the table.

Money elsewhere is still flowing

• The clubhouse keeps pulling monthly income.
• A consultant handled renovations through a loan setup.
• The first contract phase wrapped up in March 2025.
• Obligations resumed from September 2025.

Club identity and location

• The team is rooted in Bulawayo.
• Financial stability stays a constant worry.
• Mining was meant to change that.
• The setback reopened old pressure points.