Closing the gaps
Redwing gold mining halted
ARTISANAL miners working for smallscale gold mining investors in Penhalonga have been flushed out and vetting for allocation of mining claims begun in earnest this week to restore sanity in the area where a total of 21 people died in 13 months due to mishaps in mineral extraction processes.
However, some defiant artisanal miners have continued their operations under the cover of darkness, resulting in the arrest of 30 of them early this week.
The stopping of all activities at the Better-brands-managed mining operations follow the issuance of a non-compliance of safe mining conditions and waste management by Environmental Management Agency (EMA) on January 8.
Betterbrands Mining Company is operating Redwing Mine, which used to be wholly run by Metallon Gold.
EMA’s Manicaland provincial manager, Mr Kingstone Chitotombe confirmed the development and said this sought to ensure adherence to safe mining conditions as well as allowing for the rehabilitation of the mined area.
“There were issues of non-compliance of safe mining and waste management by Betterbrands, resulting in us issuing them with an order for them to halt their operations until they address the issues.
“In the past, issues of their non-compliance have been a cause of concern. We will not relent. We have adopted a whole Government approach where we are involving the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, law enforcement agents, local authorities and us to address the situation prevailing in Penhalonga. Deaths are being recorded there due to unsafe mining operations, while the damage to the environment is terrible,” he said.
Besides the damage to the environment, a total of 17 people died due to mishaps during