Pressure on mines to finance Zim road repairs

DIFFICULTIES in moving mined platinum ore to South Africa for treatment have forced Impala Platinum and Sibanye Gold’s joint venture (JV) operation in Zimbabwe to provide money to reconstruct damaged transport infrastructure in the country.

Heavy rains this year have damaged infrastructure, with Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa announcing the country’s required $200 million (R2.7m) to effect the repairs.

The deluge also disrupted business for other manufacturing companies in the country.

The Delta Corporation said it could not reach some parts of the country during the quarter to end-March when the rains peaked.

Pearson Gowero, the chief executive of the beverages maker and brewer said: “The rains damaged infrastructure and disrupted business. We were unable to reach markets in flood affected areas.” The Mimosa JV between Implats and Sibanye Gold is one of three South African-owned platinum mines in the country alongside Unki, controlled by Anglo Platinum and Zimplats, wholly owned by Implats. Bridge Unki also transports platinum for final refining in South Africa and is in the same region as Mimosa. The two mines had been facing difficulties transporting platinum from Zvishavane and Shurugwi to Beit Bridge enroute to South Africa. This was worsened by damages to the road and a major bridge that collapsed owing to the incessant rains induced by tropical cyclone Dineo.

“The minister asked if there was more we could do about the damaged infrastructure when he came to the mine and together with partners we have availed funds to fix the Nkankezi Bridge which we use to transport ore to South Africa,” said Mimosa executive chairperson Winston Chitando.

The Zimbabwean government has been increasingly turning to mining companies for help with infrastructure and humanitarian issues following the rains.

Zimplats and Mimosa have also had to offer humanitarian assistance to communities displaced by the rain.