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Gold volumes likely to drop as govt suspends artis...

Gold volumes likely to drop as govt suspends artisanal mining operations

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Volumes of gold delivery to Fidelity Printers and Refineries are likely to decrease during the first quarter of this season following the government decision to temporarily stop operations of small-scale artisanal miners as a precaution measure.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Soda Zhemu yesterday ordered suspension of small-scale mining across the country citing that the rainy season brings with it grave dangers and risks that are a threat to lives and potential loss of equipment and damage to mines. 

“During the rainy season, we experience heightened risks in the form of flooding, drowning, weakened ground leading to fall and ground subsidence as well as slimes dam breaches which unfortunately lead to loss of lives.

 “The Ministry would like to implore all the miners to be cognizant of these dangers and risks and accordingly take adequate precautions and practice responsible mining to preserve lives as a top most priority. It should be noted that we are lately experiencing torrential rainfall, which increases the dangers and risks,” Zhemu said.

 The Ministry advised miners to avoid working or mining along rivers or waterways as shafts are likely to flood from rain upstream, posing risks of drowning.

The miners were further urged to avoid digging and blasting in old mine workings because soils easily get saturated and ground becomes unstable and is bound to collapse anytime burying miners alive.

“As a precaution, small-scale artisanal miners are advised to completely stop mining altogether and resume when the rains stop. Furthermore, miners should cooperate with instructions given by government authorities to ensure safe mining operations.

“It should be noted that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Inspectors shall be out in full force to ensure that there is compliance with all governance requirements failure of which punishment will be imposed,” the Minister said.

Gold Zimbabwe’s largest foreign currency earner, which is expected to contribute US$4 billion under the government's US$12 billion economy strategic road map.

Small-scale and artisanal miners contribute about 60 percent of the country’s gold output.

The decision to halt small miners’ operations comes a few weeks after 15 artisanal miners survived at Redwing Mine in Penhalonga, Manicaland Province after a mine shaft collapsed. They were trapped for three days before they were rescued alive.

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