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Two die at Redwing mine

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Two die at Redwing mine

Two people died at Redwing mine in Manicaland Police spokesperson Inspector Nobert Muzondo has confirmed.

Inspector Muzondo confirmed that Hardlife Dzamiti (21) was trapped after a mudslide into the shaft he was working in.

“Police confirm the sudden death by trapping in Penhalonga on March 13, 2023, of Hardlife Dzamiti (21) of Chiware village under Chief Nyashanu, Buhera, who entered into a mine shaft 8 metres deep. While inside, a mudslide fell into the mineshaft, trapping him,” Muzondo said.

“On the same day, Joshua Ncube from Harare died of suffocation. Police said the now-deceased Ncube was in the company of Terrence Magwara in a 13-metre deep mineshaft when he developed some difficulties in breathing and died.”

He added: “Mine deaths occur almost occasionally, the frequency is high because we have illegal miners who are sneaking into disused shafts. As Police, it is our call to those who are sneaking into the mineshafts to desist because the soils are loose because of the incessant rains.”

Centre for Research and Development director James Mupfumi said they were worried about recurrent deaths at Redwing Mine.

“Perpetrators of slave labour in mining pits at Redwing Mine are behind gold smuggling, tax evasion and environmental degradation and loss of lives in Penhalonga and we are worried,” he said.

Centre for Natural Resource Governance director Farai Maguwu said: “There is unsafe mining that is happening at the mine and that should be stopped.”

Better Brands officials could not be reached for comment.

Newsday with additional reporting

Mining industry rates of pay January – December 2023

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Mining industry rates of pay January – December 2023

This notice serves to bring to your attention that the following new minimum rates of pay for grades 1-13 were agreed upon and pegged in US Dollars by the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, on the 13th of March 2023 and will be subsequently sent to the Ministry of Labour and Social Services for Registration and Publication.

RATES OF PAY FOR   THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY 2023 TO 31 DECEMBER 2023

The Principal Agreement Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990 is amended by the deletion of Clause 1 (a) and 1 (b) of Schedule E and the substitution of: –

“1 (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 (b) the basic minimum earnings payable to employees for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 shall be as per the attached Schedules.

This Agreement is subject to review in terms of section 3 (2) of Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990, based on the prevailing economic situation in the Mining Industry.

The agreement carries an Exemption Clause as stipulated in the Principal Agreement, Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990, Clau5e 6 (Exemptions, Variations and Savings). Non-foreign currency generating companies, upon being granted an exemption, may be allowed to pay the full US dollar amount in ZW dollars equivalent using the official Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) auction rate.

Those employers who are able to pay more than the N.E.C. minimums are encouraged to do so.

All increases shall be based on the dollar value principle.

DOWNLOAD WAGE RATES HERE

Gold buying prices Wednesday 15 March 2023

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Gold buying prices Wednesday 15 March 2023

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices 15 March 2023.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$58.26/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$57.34/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$56.72/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$56.11/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$55.19/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH US$58.26/g

NB: Fire Assay cash price is for gold above 100gs and no sample is deducted.
For the Fire Assay Transfer price, a sample of not more than 10g is deducted
A 2% royalty is charged on all deposits (small-scale miners)
A 5% royalty is charged to Primary Producers

Cash available. Fidelity Gold Refinery prices will be changing daily in relation to world market prices.

2 million tons of Lithium ore pilled up due to ban

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2 million tons of Lithium ore pilled up due to ban

Zimbabwe’s ban on lithium ore exports has resulted in stockpiles of the key battery metal building up in the country.

The ban introduced by the government last December in a bid to encourage local processing of the metal has resulted in 2 million tons of ore being stockpiled, according to Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Henrietta Rushwaya. Now the industry has asked President Emmerson Mnangagwa to review the ban as it threatens the viability of their operations.

“The unexpected ban has prejudiced standing offtake agreements between miners and international buyers, some of whom had taken loans from their respective countries to trade in these minerals,” Rushwaya said in the letter to Mnangagwa.

The ban has impacted small- and medium-scale miners, but it’s not clear how much lithium is contained in the stockpiled ore.

Most of the lithium from Zimbabwe which has one of Africa’s largest resources of the metal — is usually shipped to China or South Africa, Rushwaya said by phone. Nations from the US to China are rushing to secure supplies of materials necessary for the green-energy transition as the world turns away from fossil fuels.

Chengxin Lithium Group Co. and Sinomine Resource Group Co. are exploring a joint venture to set up a battery metals processing plant in Zimbabwe, while Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Ltd. has invested $300 million to develop a processing plant at its Arcadia lithium mine.

Mining.com

ZMF pleads for a 6month reprieve on Base mineral exports ban

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ZMF pleads for a 6month reprieve on Base mineral exports ban

The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has pleaded with President Mnangagwa to grant a 6-month moratorium on Statutory Instrument 5 of 2023 – Base Minerals Export Control (Unbeneficiated Base Mineral Ores), in particular, the export of raw lithium ore.

In a letter seen by this publication, ZMF President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya lamented that the ban amount other things had affected the Livelihoods of small-scale miners involved in mining base minerals had been negatively impacted by the ban since the trading of the minerals was halted.

She outlined several reasons why President Mnangagwa should consider a 6-month reprieve however she reiterated that her organisation which is by far the biggest mining body in the country, still upholds and fully supports the value addition of these minerals.

“Your Excellency, this humble request has been necessitated by the following reasons:

  1. The unexpected ban has prejudiced standing off-take agreements between miners and international buyers some of whom had taken loans from their respective countries to finance trade in these minerals.
  2. Some miners have found themselves stuck with huge stockpiles thus locking Cash Flows and affecting operations.
  3. The temporary moratorium will unlock foreign Currency earnings to boost market liquidity and expand Government’s revenue base through royalty fee payments and associated taxes.
  4. Establishment of Processing Plants take between 6 months to 12 months to commission. The current market for lithium is outside Zimbabwe and companies need to export the mineral to raise capital to build the plants.
  5. Livelihoods of small-scale miners involved in mining base minerals have been negatively impacted by the ban since the trading of the minerals was halted.

Your Excellency, the mining of base minerals remains crucial for Zimbabwe and contributes significantly to the fiscus and as such, ZMF, as an institution, still upholds and fully supports the value addition of these minerals,” Rushwaya said in a statement.

Zimbabwe banned the export of raw lithium to enable value addition and beneficiation in an effort to see the country benefit from the clean energy revolution. However, the move was criticised by experts who say the move was rushed and seemed to sideline indigenous miners.

Ministry of Mines clears the us$100 million investment misconception

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A Ministry of Mines and Mining development official yesterday cleared the misconception surrounding the us$100 million investment requirement that has been a hot topic in the Mines and Minerals amendment bill HB 10 2022.

Speaking at the Edmunds Davis Hall where over a hundred stakeholders had converged to submit their views on the ongoing Public Consultations by the Mines and Mining Development Portfolio Committee a Ministry of Mines official clarified the misconception after a number of miners had said they wanted a percentage share on the us$100million dollars which they misinterpreted as funds that will be directly deposited into government coffers.

An attendee suggested that a law must be passed that when an investor “pays” the hundred million the affected miner should be awarded 10% of that total amount.

“There must be a law that when the investor pays us$100 million, I, as the affected land owner must get 10% of that amount. He further suggested 40 per cent should be allocated to the affected community,” he said igniting excitement from the community.

A Deputy Legal Advisor with the Mines and Mining Development Ministry Mr Lishon Muvengeranwa then corrected the misconception clarifying that the government was not being paid the said amount in cash but rather the amount was a requirement for a company to be granted a license to mine.

“The hundred million is not money being paid to the government but rather an amount required as an investment by the miner to be granted licenses to mine Strategic Minerals in Zimbabwe, he said.

The Hwange community came in their numbers to add their voices to the new Mines and Minerals Bill which if passed will be enacted into law.

The most outstanding contribution from the community was the need to pass a law that makes it mandatory for a community to get a share of the total production on a monthly basis.

It was resoundingly agreed that investors were abusing the non-binding regulation that required they engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Some were reported to be buying exercise books for local schools, or cabbages for funerals which they would declare as CSR.

The Community like all requested at this year’s Public hearings conducted by the Edmond Mkaratigwa-led Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development requested a law be added to the bill that communities get a fixed share from investors mining in their communities in order to benefit from their resources as currently, no binding legislation required them to do so.

Pollution: EMA pounces on Chinese coal mining companies

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Pollution: EMA pounces on Chinese coal mining companies

Environment protection agency, Environmental Management Agency (Ema), has pounced on two Chinese coal mining companies after villagers in Hwange’s Makwika area complained that the firms were discharging pollutants into their water sources.

The villagers claim that the pollutants have caused massive deaths of fish and other aquatic life in the village dams and rivers.

Greater Whange Residents Trust chairperson Fidelis Chima said: “We received information that certain coal mining companies are discharging coal emissions into the water point at Makwika village, resulting in death of fish, and sadly people are selling the fish to residents of Makwika.

“We have, however, engaged Ema and they promised to make investigations. We have confidence that Ema will act on the matter and bring perpetrators to justice. This is happening at RAM 12 water point, a small dam near Makwika village.”

EMA provincial manager Chipo Mpofu-Zuze confirmed receiving the report.

“Yes we received a report of this nature from an anonymous caller on March 2. We conducted investigations at Open Cast Water Point Number 3 Hwange Colliery Company Mine Concession. Two companies Dingson Colliery and Zhong Jian Investments which are HCCL contractors were found (dewatering) pumping water out of their mining pits into the environment with the discharge getting into Number 3 main canal,” Mpofu-Zuze said.

“Environmental Protection Orders in terms of section 37 of the Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27) were issued ordering  them to avoid  pumping into the environment until  they have adequate  and sustainable measures to handle their mine water, and prove that the water quality meets acceptable levels for disposal into the environment in line with environmental protection regulations.”

Mpofu-Zuze said both entities were issued with level 14 penalties for contravening the provisions of Section 57 of the Environmental Management Act Chapter 20:27 on disposal of effluent in such a manner as to cause environmental pollution.

“The agency went on to collect water samples from the discharge points for analysis and is waiting for the results. There are two HCCL contractors namely Dingson Colliery and Zhong Jian Investments. The period for the payment of the tickets issued to the two companies has not yet lapsed and will lapse on 9 March 2023. Failure to pay on time will result in a docket being opened with the police.”

Mpofu-Zuze added that coal mine water is detrimental to aquatic life, particularly fish if it is not treated.

Southern Eye

Mines bill public hearings: Parly in Esigodini today

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Mines bill public hearings: Parly in Esigodini today

The Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development will today (Wednesday 8 February 2023) conduct public hearings on the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill in Esigodini Matabeleland South.

The hearings will be held at Esikhoveni Training Centre in the small town.

According to the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee, Hon Edmond Mkaratigwa, the bill seeks to repeal the existing parent Mining Law adapting to over a decade of new national and international developments and challenges affecting the mining sector and its linkages throughout the value chain.

He said critical issues already provided in the bill revolve around:

  • Recognition of the Artisanal and Small-scale miners.
  • Farmer Miner disputes
  • Environmental, health and Safety issues
  • Recognition of Provincial Mining Directors
  • Devolution of the Mining sector administration royalty
  • Equity and equity of Mining fees across provinces and local authorities.
  • CSR and the need for social and environmental protection
  • Installation and operationalization of Computerised Cadastre system among others.

All stakeholders are invited and accordingly, any views expressed when the hearings are in session have the protection of Parliament.

The committee is currently on a two-week country-wide tour to get public input on the proposed minerals act.

On the 9th of March 2023, the consultations will commence at Edmunds Davis Hall in Hwange from 12:00hrs – 14:00hrs and Kamativi on the 10th of March 2023. On the 11th of March 2023, the consultations will be held at Gweru theatre from 10:00hrs – 12:00hrs and will conclude at Rimuka Town Hall on the same day from 14:00hrs.

The public consultations have attracted stakeholders not only from the Mining industry but farming since the two sectors are intertwined.

Marula establishes lithium, copper mining subsidiary in Zimbabwe

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Marula establishes lithium, copper mining subsidiary in Zimbabwe

Mining and development company Marula Mining has established Muchai Mining, an 80%-owned Zimbabwean operating subsidiary.

Muchai Mining has been established to focus on securing near-term and advanced lithium and copper mining and development opportunities in Zimbabwe’s fast-growing and highly attractive battery metals sector, Marula says.

Marula will hold 80% of the company’s equity, while Zimbabwean company Gondo Mineral Resources (GMR) will own the remaining 20% interest.

The decision to establish the subsidiary company and have an operating presence in Zimbabwe follows extensive due diligence that is being completed on a number of opportunities in Zimbabwe’s fast-growing battery metals sector, Marula points out.

Representatives of the company and Muchai Mining’s management team have been in the country, on the ground, since the beginning of the year, reviewing a number of potential opportunities.

The establishment of Muchai Mining is in line with the company’s strategy to identify, develop and advance new prospective battery metals opportunities in East and Southern Africa.

“The decision to establish Muchai Mining is the result of extensive due diligence and careful consideration of various opportunities in the region. Our team has been on the ground since the beginning of the year, and we are excited about the potential that Zimbabwe offers the company and the industry.

“With Marula’s experience and expertise, combined with our local partner’s knowledge and experience in the country, we believe Muchai Mining is well positioned for success,” comments Marula CEO Jason Brewer.

“This positioning of Marula in Zimbabwe aligns seamlessly with our strategy and development plans, as we continue to identify and pursue opportunities that we believe have the potential to deliver value to our shareholders.

“Zimbabwe is home to some of the most substantial hard rock lithium deposits globally, with major interest from Chinese-owned mining companies who are active in the sector.

“Additionally, Zimbabwe is home to over 70 known copper deposits, and copper mining has experienced a revival in the country, coinciding with an increase in copper prices,” he adds.

Mining Weekly

Gold buying prices Tuesday 7 March 2023

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Gold buying prices Tuesday 7 March 2023

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices Tuesday 7 March 2023.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$56.47/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$55.58/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$54.98/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$54.39/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$53.50/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH US$56.47/g

NB: Fire Assay cash price is for gold above 100gs and no sample is deducted.
For the Fire Assay Transfer price, a sample of not more than 10g is deducted
A 2% royalty is charged on all deposits (small-scale miners)
A 5% royalty is charged to Primary Producers

Cash available. Fidelity Gold Refinery prices will be changing daily in relation to world market prices.

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