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Metallon Corporation has announced that it is 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.

By Kelvin Sungiso

In a statement, the gold miner said it is relieved that no lives were lost and medical care and necessary support were rendered to the affected.

Metallon said it is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all workers at Redwing Mine and will take all necessary measures to prevent any future incidents.

Here is the Press statement in full:-

Update on Redwing Mine Operations

We are relieved to report that all 15 miners have evacuated to the surface and there has been no loss of life. Medical care and all necessary support have been rendered to the affected.

Metallon Corporation, the owner of Redwing Mine and Mazowe Mine wishes to state the following;

Redwing Mine has historically operated as a formalised, large-scale mine. When the mine was placed under corporate rescue in 2020, and under the management of an administrator, artisanal mining was introduced on a wide scale. This incident occurred in one of the artisanal mining near-surface pits. In 2022, the Supreme Court effectively removed the mine from corporate rescue. Since then, Metallon has been engaged in processes to restore formalised mining. As part of these processes, Metallon is ending unsafe mining practices, including all small-scale mining, and returning these operations to the formalised mining that Metallon has always conducted.

Metallon Corp. Management ENDS

Metallon Corporation, a prominent gold mining company in Zimbabwe, has expressed deep regret and concern following an accident that occurred on its claims at Redwing Mine in Mutare.

In an official statement released yesterday, the company said as soon as the accident was reported, the mine’s dedicated rescue team promptly mobilized and initiated rescue operations. The company established that 11 artisanal Miners were trapped underground.

“Metallon Corporation regrets to advise of an accident involving artisanal miners working in small-scale mining pits in claims around Redwing Mine. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, 4 January 2024. The mine’s rescue team was mobilised and immediately commenced rescue operations. Early assessments are that 11 miners are trapped,” the company said in a press release.

However, due to unstable ground conditions, several rescue attempts were unsuccessful. Metallon said it is diligently evaluating the state of the ground to ensure the safety of the rescue operation before proceeding.

“The team has made several rescue attempts. However, the ground remains unstable, rendering rescue operations unsafe. Our teams are diligently assessing ground conditions to make sure that rescue operations proceed safely as soon as possible. Initial assessments indicate earth tremors as a possible cause of the incident,” the statement read in part.

While investigations are still ongoing, preliminary assessments suggested that earth tremors may have played a role in the incident. Redwing Mine has a history of operating as a large-scale mine, employing main shafts, but after it was placed under corporate rescue in 2020, artisanal mining was introduced on a broader scale. It is within one of these artisanal mining pits that this accident occurred.

“Redwing Mine has historically operated as a large-scale mine, utilising main shafts. When the mine was placed under corporate rescue in 2020, artisanal mining was introduced on a wide scale. This incident occurred in one of the artisanal mining pits,” the company continued.

Metallon Corporation assured that it is actively collaborating with the authorities to address the situation and provide assistance were needed. The gold miner pledged to share further updates and information as they become available.