Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) Holdings is spearheading the modernisation of rock engineering and geotechnical strategies through the deployment of cutting-edge digital technologies, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The revelation was made by Mr. Akim Mutiti, who represented HCCL Holdings Chief Executive Officer, Mr. William Gambiza, as the Guest of Honour at the Zimbabwe National Institute of Rock Engineering (ZINIRE) Annual Symposium held at Elephant Hills on Friday.
The high-level symposium, convened under the theme “Managing Fall of Ground into the Future,” brought together the nation’s leading mining engineers, strata control officers, and geotechnical experts to address critical safety challenges in the industry.
In his keynote address, Mr. Mutiti underscored the company’s commitment to a future anchored on purpose-driven and innovative mining. He outlined HCCL’s strategic pivot towards embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles across its operations.
“Guided by our vision of Zero Harm, we are modernising rock engineering and geotechnical strategies, deploying digital mine planning systems, drones, and advanced geological software,” Mr. Mutiti said. “These tools are not mere innovations; they are the safeguards of our people, the protectors of our environment, and the foundation of a resilient industry.”
Mr. Mutiti emphasised that the responsibility of mining houses extends beyond profit, resting squarely on ensuring the safety of every employee. He hailed rock engineers and mining professionals as the indispensable “guardians of our most valuable asset: our people.”
Drawing from an international case study, he highlighted the moral and operational imperative for robust corporate ground control, stating that it is a non-negotiable standard for the industry.
The HCCL official also issued a sobering call to action, pointing to recent fatal incidents in Chegutu and at disused shafts as tragic reminders of the work that remains. He urged ZINIRE to lead in extending its expertise beyond large corporations to the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, where fatalities continue to occur.
“The test of our leadership is not in what we do for well-resourced mines, but in how far we extend the shield of safety to those who need it most,” he asserted.
To this end, Mr. Mutiti proposed a three-pronged approach: fostering knowledge transfer, embracing technology like real-time monitoring systems, and creating accessible safety resources for small-scale miners.
He concluded with a powerful guarantee that every miner, from Hwange to Chegutu, deserves the right to return home safely at the end of each shift, a goal he said is achievable through courageous leadership, purposeful innovation, and unwavering conviction.
