Metalon Corporation-owned Mazowe Mining Company (MMC) has announced its plans to resume underground shaft operations as part of its corporate strategy.
This move aims to reintroduce shaft mining and extensively rehabilitate mining areas to ensure safer mining practices, thereby protecting the lives and well-being of miners, local communities, and the environment.
In a statement, the company said the decision to end all unsafe near-surface mining in favour of more secure operations is a step towards ensuring the overall safety and sustainability of the mining industry. Underground shaft operations are expected to be much safer for miners and the community as a whole. In addition to this, such operations will also significantly contribute to the national fiscus and boost supporting industries.
“Mazowe Mining Company (“MMC”) announces steps to resume underground shaft operations as part of a corporate strategy. This will entail reintroducing shaft mining and extensively rehabilitating mining areas. This step is necessary to ensure that mining is conducted safely, thereby averting loss of life and injury to miners and protecting local communities and the environment,” the company statement reads in part.
“Consequently, MMC is ending all unsafe near-surface mining in favour of more secure operations. Underground shaft operations will be safer for miners and the community. It will also contribute more to the national fiscus and boost supporting industries. This strategic thrust aligns with recent pronouncements by the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, unequivocally advocating for safe and sustainable mining.
“We are aware that these necessary measures to enforce responsible mining have faced resistance from some miners. Such actions prevent MMC’s efforts to rehabilitate mining pits and pave the way for safe mining. We note the campaign of misinformation that has targeted the Company, meant to discredit the necessary steps we are taking. MMC is cooperating with all parties involved to ensure the success of this transition to safer mining. Together, we aim to set a benchmark for responsible mining, fostering a secure and sustainable future for all stakeholders”
MMC is cooperating with all parties involved to ensure the success of this transition to safer mining. Together, we aim to set a benchmark for responsible mining, fostering a secure and sustainable future for all stakeholders.,” the statement concludes.
Recently Metallon Corporation announced that it was ending all unsafe mining activities including all small-scale mining, and will be returning operations to formalised mining at its Redwing Mine in Penhalonga where 15 Artisanal miners were stuck underground following a 20-metre mine shaft collapse.