Woman killed in Lafarge compound after Cement Mine blast.
After losing their mother due to irresponsible mining activities, the bereaved family was told by the government not to speak to anyone about the incident.
A Pangoula Farm woman on the outskirts of Harare died when a huge stone from a Lafarge
quarry blast bore through the roof and struck her on the head. Shupikai Chitsana (36) who
was in the kitchen died on the spot while her aunt was injured after a fly rock from Lafarge
Cement quarry mine ripped through the roof and hit her in the head.
A perforation on Shukokai’s roof was left by a fly rock from Lafarge Cement Mine blasting site. The incident happened on 15 August 2019 and the deceased is survived by her spouse and
five children.
Minister of Mines Winston Chitando is said to have visited the scene a few days after the
accident and ordered Lafarge to erect billboards with blasting procedures,
According to the locals there were no warning signs erected around the farm workers’
compound and they only appeared after the accident ,that is the billboard was only erected on the 26 of August 2019.
The family was ordered not to talk to anyone about the incident and to refer all those
inquiring about the accident to the police and the farm manager.
Lafarge Cement Corporate Affairs Manager Tawanda Njerere confirmed the incident and
said investigations by the police and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development are
underway.
“It is true, there is a lady who died and another one injured when our contractor, Afri
Mining was blasting at our quarry mining site near Pangoula Farm. We did the necessary
notifications to the Ministry of Mines and immediate action was taken. We are now waiting
for the report.”
Although Njerere said that they cannot talk of compensation before the Ministry of Mines and
the police complete the investigation, he said the insurance will take over once the report
has been produced.
Lafarge Cement reportedly covered funeral expenses and is also
meeting the medical bills for the injured.
CNRG Director Farai Maguwu said ‘this is an unnecessary loss of life, it’s an accident that
shouldn’t have happened in the first place because there are laid down procedures for
blasting which are all intended to protect lives and these were ignored. I am equally
disappointed with attempts by the government to conceal the matter by threatening the
community not to talk to anyone about the unfortunate incident.’
Zimbabwe Center for National Resource Governance
Information Department
+263718315939/+263774542019