Chemaden Resources Ltd: Abandoned After Nine Years of Service

For the past nine years, William Mpofu has dedicated himself to protecting the Congorilla mining claims, managed by Chemaden Resources Ltd. However, despite holding an official appointment letter from the company to safeguard these assets, Mr. Mpofu now finds himself sidelined and without the compensation he was promised.

An Official Appointment

On April 19, 2016, Mr. Mpofu was formally appointed by Chemaden Resources Ltd as a mediator and security officer. His mandate, signed by the company’s mine manager, G. Salimu, was clear:

• He was tasked with settling disputes between the company and the local farmer, Mr. Edson Kadzombe, at the Congorilla claims (1–4).
• He was responsible for preventing illegal mining activities at the site.
• He was charged with ensuring the claims remained valid and that all required monthly returns were submitted to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

The letter specified that his role would continue until Chemaden Resources officially resumed operations at the site.

Years of Service and Unfulfilled Promises

Mr. Mpofu describes the immense effort required to protect the site during difficult periods. Sometime in 2017, the farmer expressed a desire to speak with the owner, Mr. John Ma. Mr. Mpofu successfully arranged for them to meet for the first time since the purchase, facilitating the meeting personally. He noted that the owner recognized his efforts in organizing the encounter, which helped maintain a stable relationship between the parties.

However, the situation took a turn for the worse when a Chinese businessman, Huan Baoquan, became involved in the company’s affairs. Mr. Mpofu alleges that Huan Baoquan, who was entrusted with managing Chemaden’s assets, forcibly removed him from the site.

A Pattern of Misconduct

The issues Mr. Mpofu faced mirror broader concerns surrounding Huan Baoquan. Recent reports indicate that Huan Baoquan is currently facing fraud charges in court, with allegations that he misappropriated nearly US$2 million from unauthorized sales of Chemaden Resources’ mining claims, including those in the Congorilla area.

While Huan Baoquan allegedly enriched himself through these illicit transactions, Mr. Mpofu—who spent nearly a decade safeguarding the company’s interests—has been left with nothing. He notes that the verbal agreements made regarding his compensation for his tireless service over the last nine years remain unhonored.

Seeking Justice

Mr. Mpofu is now speaking out to hold Chemaden Resources Ltd accountable for the promises made by their executives. He maintains that he fulfilled his duties diligently, personally covering the costs for workers during hard times when the company failed to pay them.

“I looked after this mine and even talked to the farmer for them to come and work,” Mr. Mpofu stated. “If I had done something wrong, I would have faced the consequences, but instead, someone [Huan] came to steal everything I looked after for nine years, and I am left with nothing.”

As the legal proceedings regarding the misappropriation of funds continue, Mr. Mpofu is calling for a fair resolution that recognizes his nine years of loyal service and the personal sacrifices he made to protect the Congorilla claims.