Govt to cordon off Jumbo Mine

GOVERNMENT is considering cordoning off mothballed mines such as Jumbo Mine in Mashonaland Central to prevent them from being targeted by illegal artisanal miners.

Increased incidences of unregulated and illegal mining activities have coincided with rising cases of violence by machete-wielding gangs.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has been roped in to rein in the illegal activities.

Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura said Government was working on bringing normalcy to the closed mines, particularly Jumbo Mine.

“We met on Thursday last week and deliberated on how best the situation at Jumbo Mine can be resolved. We agreed that the best option is to seal off the mine,” he said.

“There is also a court process at hand. So, the options are either to patiently wait for the process or to fasttrack the process.”

Jumbo Mine, which is one of the four mines controlled by Metallon Corporation, is presently mothballed after mine unions filed an application with the High Court for two mines — Shamva and Mazowe — to be placed under business rescue.

This has attracted illegal miners to the area. Deputy Minister Kambamura said: “We have been calling for registration of illegal miners. However, some of them choose not to register.”

Councillor Paradzai Chinyoka of Ward 19 in Concession pleaded with Government to close Jumbo Mine to stop the violence.

“I understand that everyday, Concession District Hospital receives illegal miners who have been injured or killed in these clashes,” he said.

“The last time we met with officials from the Ministry of Mines, we advocated that the mine be closed like what was done at Kitsiyatota.”

He added that there was need to formalise mining operations.

Mazowe’s Acting District Medical Officer, Dr Rachel Sosera, could not give statistics of the machete wars’ victims. However, she confirmed soaring cases of victims of violence.

“We have been witnessing an increase in the number of mining-related accidents and deaths,” she said.

“Although I cannot give you statistics at the moment, we have noticed that the number of accidents related to mining in this area has increased compared to last year during the same period.

“Obviously, we are concerned and we are really hoping that the relevant authorities will take the necessary action.”

Over the past eight months, police have arrested over 5 000 people for various cases that include possession of dangerous weapons.