Chemaden Resources Ltd: Abandoned After Nine Years of Service

Story By Staff Reporter

For nine years, William Mpofu has protected the Congorilla mining claims managed by Chemaden Resources Ltd. He holds an official appointment letter from the company. Yet he now says he has been sidelined and left without the compensation he was promised.

How the Appointment Began

The story starts in 2015. The Congorilla 1 to 4 claims were the subject of a dispute with a local farmer, Mr Edson Kadzombe, which went through the High Court under case number HC 8406/15. The former owner of the mine had by then sold it to Chemaden Resources. He asked Mr Mpofu to help the new owners settle the matter.

Mr Mpofu says he agreed. He proposed persuading the farmer to settle out of court so that mining could continue. A meeting followed at Semy Levy Village, attended by the former owner, Dr Ma, a Chinese representative known as Mr Stones, and Mr Mpofu. Mr Mpofu says Dr Ma himself made the promise, in front of everyone present. By his account, Dr Ma said that if the effort succeeded, he would give up one of his front teeth.

This happened in early April 2016. On 19 April 2016, Mr Mpofu visited the company’s head office. Dr Ma had travelled to China, but he had left instructions with his executives. They gave Mr Mpofu copies of the claims and the court order.

An Official Appointment

The company’s mine manager, G. Salimu, then wrote and signed a letter appointing Mr Mpofu as mediator and security officer. The letter set out three duties:

• He would settle disputes between the company and the farmer at Congorilla claims 1 to 4.
• He would prevent illegal mining at the site.
• He would keep the claims valid and make sure monthly returns reached the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

The letter said the role would continue until Chemaden Resources formally resumed operations.

Tragedy and Mediation

Mr Mpofu says he travelled to Bindura for verification work. He then began building a relationship with the farmer. On 12 January 2017, an illegal miner became trapped in one of the Congorilla shafts and died. Mr Mpofu phoned the former owner and the company manager. Witnesses he identified later explained what had happened. Mr Mpofu continued to act as a go-between.

The farmer later asked to speak to the original owner of the mine. By then, Chemaden had changed its executives again, and Mrs Willar was serving as chief executive. She phoned the owner, Mr John Ma, who returned from China because the meeting served the company’s interests. In April 2017, Mrs Willar, Mr Stones, Mr John Ma and Mr Mpofu met at the Harare Royal Sports Club. Mr John Ma then went back to China, and the farmer accepted an out-of-court settlement.

Pressure From Other Miners

Also in 2017, many people came to the claims wanting to mine, and Mr Mpofu says he refused them all. They included a holder of a special grant, number 6078, who ran a company called ACT Glow. The dispute dragged on until Mr Mpofu took it to the Ministry of Mines.

Guarding the Dump

Mr Mpofu says a German-era dump remained on the claims, holding about 300 truckloads of 30 tons each. Because of the reward he had been promised, he guarded it closely for years. When the company failed to pay workers, he says, he covered their wages from his own pocket.

Change of Management

Then, according to Mr Mpofu, a new chief executive named Huan took over. He alleges that Huan disowned his appointment and removed him from the site. He further alleges that the dump was later looted and that the claims were sold for personal gain.

Reports say Huan now faces fraud charges in court. The allegations include misappropriating nearly US$2 million from unauthorised sales of Chemaden’s claims, including those at Congorilla. These remain allegations, and the court has not made any finding.

Efforts to Seek Answers

Mr Mpofu says he has tried every route open to him. The Chinese Embassy received his email address and two letters, but he got no response. On 4 September 2026, he left a letter for company shareholder Mr Huang Langen with a security guard at the Harare residence where Mrs Willar stays.

Mr Mpofu says Mrs Willar was the link who arranged the 2017 meeting with Mr John Ma. Today, he says, she tells him she has no contact details for Mr John Ma, whom she says is no longer her boss. She also says she has none for Mr Huang Langen, who stayed at her apartment until 22 September 2026. Mr Mpofu asks why she cannot help.

A Call for Fairness

“I looked after this mine and even talked to the farmer for them to come and work,” Mr Mpofu said. “If I had done something wrong, I would have faced the consequences. Instead, someone came to take everything I looked after for nine years, and I am left with nothing.”

He says he acted without regard to race, colour, tribe or wealth. As the legal case continues, he wants Chemaden Resources and its owners to honour the promises made to him.

Chemaden Resources Ltd, Huan Baoquan, Mr Huang Langen and Mrs Willar could not be reached for comment. Hanyani News will update this story if they respond.

Contact: Anyone with information that could help Mr Mpofu, or who represents Chemaden Resources Ltd, can reach him on +263 71 892 1340.