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Mine Rescue National competitions underway

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Mine Rescue National competitions underway

ELEVEN Mine rescue teams are currently battling it out at the Mine Rescue National competitions currently underway at Jena Mine in Kwekwe.

Zimplats Mining, Zimplats SMC, Unki, Renco, Vubachikwe, Freda Rebecca, Redwing, Hwange, Mimosa, How mine and Blanket mine have been conducting rescue operations since 04:15hrs today in an effort to crown the best-coordinated team in emergency mine rescue operations under the banner of the Mine Rescue Association of Zimbabwe.

The teams had to act on a written instruction that stated,” A crew of 5 tramming employees was working in 101m level of the Wankie shaft. It has been reported that a premature detonation occurred at 248mL N38 Sector. Your task is to proceed underground to verify the effect of the premature detonation on the N15 section. Check the following condition:

  1. Ventilation
  2. Visibility
  3. Ground and any other

The five main things that are being tested are

  1. Map reading
  2. Emergency procedures adherence
  3. Leadership and teamwork
  4. Physical fitness and endurance

The Mine Rescue Association of Zimbabwe was established in 1972 following the Hwange Colliery Mine disaster which killed 427 employees at the No. 2 Shaft.

The disaster exposed the gap in the industry for effective mine rescue structures that can respond to emergency rescue needs.

The Association consists of rescue teams that are equipped to operate in fresh air and irrespirable atmosphere. It develops operating standards and conducts training for all brigades-persons that are certified to undertake mine rescue. The teams are placed into zones where they provide rescue services within their respective zones. The geographic spread of teams within a zone is structured to ensure the minimum response times to rescue callouts. The country has 3 ones with 12 teams which operate (three mines operate 2 teams each) in irrespirable atmospheres. The mine Rescue Association encourages every mine to operate a fresh air rescue teams that presents the first line of response should there be a need. Such teams ensure reduced response times.

Results will be announced in due course.

BREAKING: Mashwest PMD granted bail

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BREAKING: Mashwest PMD granted bail

Mashonalandwest Provincial Mining Director Ms Sibongubuhle Mpindiwa has been granted bail.

Mpindiwa was ordered to pay rtgs ZWL60 000 and remanded to the 9th of November 2022.

Mpindiwa was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Monday and charged with various offences mainly to do with issuing mining certificates of mines already under the ownership of other parties.

Meanwhile, some miners have raised a red flag saying even if the evidence points to wrongdoing it is surveyors and geologists who go to the ground for verification therefore they also should be held accountable as they are the ones that put forth recommendations for Mpindiwa to approve.

This is a developing story…

Mine-grabbing cartels invade Kadoma

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Mine-grabbing cartels invade Kadoma

A sophisticated, dangerous and skimming mine-grabbing cartel has invaded the City of Gold (Kadoma) and the surrounding areas where the cartel has been grabbing mines owned by unsuspecting individuals and mining syndicates.

Many unsuspecting, suspecting and knowledgeable individuals have fallen prey to the skims of the cartel losing their mining concessions in part or in full. Miners in Kadoma say the cartel has been a distraction to the achievement of the US$12 billion mining industry as they are always creating disputes leading to the suspension of mining operations by the courts.

Who are the members of the mining cartel?

The cartel which compromises members of the security sector,  influential people, members of the Judiciary, officials from the Ministries of Local Governance, Mines and lands is under the brains of gold buyer mine grabbers.

How do they do it?

The skimmers of the cartel (gold buyers) will identify and investigate a small-scale gold mine that is consistently producing high grades. They then identify loopholes that they can use to create a dispute so that mining operations can be suspended by the court.

The well-connected cartel will do everything in its power to make sure that its case will always have an upper hand in the courts of law even though its case may be weak.

After creating disputes and taking the matters through the courts of law, the cartel makes sure that the case will never come out of court whilst operations are suspended as a way of making the miner desperate. (The miner will be accumulating debts from unpaid employees, lawyers and other costs related to the suspension of the operations thereby making him/her desperate to seek an outside court settlement.)

The miner will then be approached by either or all from the security sector, the judiciary, Mines, Lands and Local Governance Ministry who then recommend him/her to approach a certain saviour (who is also part of the cartel) so that the person can help them. Unsuspecting that the person is part of the cartel, the miner will approach that person for help. The person before helping will make the miner signs a document claiming half or more from the mine after helping solve the dispute.

Outcome

The miner will eventually win the dispute but will have to give part of his mine to the cartel due to their agreements.

Gold buying prices Tuesday 11 October 2022

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Gold buying prices Tuesday 11 October 2022

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices Tuesday 11 October 2022.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$51.20/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$50.39/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$49.85/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$49.32/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$48.51/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH US$51.20/g

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

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

Mnangagwa warns lazy Mines officials

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Mnangagwa warns lazy Mines officials

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned government officials who are not doing their work professionally to up their sleeves as lazy work was an act of sabotage to economic revival.

Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of the Dinson Iron and Steel project in Mhanhize between Chivhu and Mvuma, President Mnangagwa said the country was being sabotaged by unpatriotic and lazy government officials who were not putting their hearts into their work.

The President warned that those officials will face an axe if they are found on the wrong side.

“We have officials who sit in air-conditioned offices, who take long to approve investors’ documents. They just hang their jackets in offices and sometimes read documents halfway and put them aside then the next day they come up with another excuse, and this will continue until the project is buried. We don’t want such kind of officials in this country,” President Mnangagwa said.

This has come after reports indicated that the Mashonaland West Province Mines office has not been timely issuing mining titles despite being capacitated with more vehicles and staff leading to miners opting to operate illegally.

The Mashonaland Central Province Mines office was also in news recently for closing its offices willy-nilly for meetings.

Labour Ministry to address worker exploitation allegations by Chinese

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Labour Ministry to address worker exploitation allegations by Chinese

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has moved in to address allegations of exploitation and slavery-like treatment of mine workers by Chinese-owned mining firms.

Rudairo Mapuranga

The move by the labour Ministry to address the allegations came after the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mine Workers Union (ZDAMWU) wrote a letter seeking government intervention in the alleged ill-treatment of mine workers.

The Ministry of Public Service informed ZDAMWU that it is currently working with National Society Security Authority (NSSA) to investigate the allegations and it has also engaged the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to address the matter.

“The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare acknowledges receipt of your letter… Wherein allegations of rampant disregard of Zimbabwe labour laws were levelled against Chinese-owned mining companies operating in the country. The Ministry wishes to advise that it is currently engaging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to comprehensively develop effective strategies to address this matter.

“The Ministry would like to highlight that it is working collaboratively with the National Society Security Authority (NSSA) to conduct workplace inspection across the country to investigate and check compliance by Chinese-owned mining companies to the country’s legislation,” the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s Permanent Secretary S Masanga said to ZDAMWU.

ZACC speaks on charges Mashwest PMD is facing

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ZACC speaks on charges Mashwest PMD is facing

Mashwest Provincial Mining Director is currently being held at Police cells in Chinhoyi criminally charged with abuse of office.

Mining Zimbabwe spoke to Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Commissioner John Makamure who outlined the various offences the Mashwest Provincial Mining Director (PMD) Ms Sibongubuhle Mpindiwa is currently being charged with.

First on the list was the mining title she issued to Frank Siyankuni at a mine owned by Dallaglio Investments contravening section 45 of the Mines and Mineral Act Chapter 21:05

“On 22 February 2019, the accused person Sibongile Mpindiwa being the Acting Provincial Mining Director in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Mashonaland West Province issued a mining certificate to Frank Siyankuni for Ruvengo for Stockdale Farm in Chegutu.

The mining area which was issued to Frank Siyankuni by the accused person belongs to Dallaglio Private Limited which was issued a mining certificate for the same mining area in 2005. The mining certificate to Dallaglio Private Limited was never cancelled.

When the accused person issued the certificate to Frank Siyankuni, she knew very well that Dallaglio Private Limited had a mine with Registration Certificate Ruvengo 77 to 81 at that same area contravening section 45 of the Mines and Mineral Act Chapter 21:05,” the Commissioner said.

The commissioner also said Mpindiwa unlawfully issued a license to a Kwaramba to mine in a farm reserved for a government company violating section 31 subsection 1 paragraph (d) of the Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 21:05

“Sometime in February 2021, the accused person issued Kwaramba a prospecting license to mine at Strathmore Farm located in Banket. The farm is reserved for Mining Promotion Corporation, a Government exploration company under EPO 07/2019.

The accused person issued a prospecting license to Kwaramba whose blocks are located right under the EPO 07/2019.

The accused person as a Provincial Mining Director acted contrary to and inconsistent with her duties as a public officer and her actions were in violation of Section 31 subsection 1 paragraph (d) of the Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 21:05 which states that no person shall be entitled to exercise any of his rights under any prospecting licence or any special grant to carry out prospecting operations or any exclusive prospecting order on an area reserved for another use by the other responsible state authority.

The accused was supposed to act in accordance with the Act by rejecting the application for a prospecting license since the area in question was under EPO 07/2019,” Makamure said.

“On 04 June 2021, the accused person Sibongile Mpindiwa being the Provincial Mining Director in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Mashonaland West Province revoked ZURICH Mine registration number 268 and 269 under revocation invoice number 063213B.

Hardwork Berah Zurich Mine 268 and 269 number 8664 and 8665 had been issued its certificates on 11 September 2006 and was forfeited on in September 2011. The accused person later revoked Zurich Mine registration number 268 and 269 number 8664 and 8665 on 04/06/21 which is 10 years later after the accused person had forfeited the mine in question.

The accused person acted contrary to and inconsistent with her duty thereby Showing Favor to Hardwork Berah and disfavour to Athanas Ranjeni and other applicants on the waiting list Contravening Section 272 subsection (3) of the Mines and Mineral act which requires that such revocation can only be done within 21 days from date of forfeiture.

The accused was supposed to act in accordance with the Act, by rejecting the application to revoke since the time which is required by Section 272 subsection had lapsed,” the commissioner concluded.

After the news broke of the PMD’s arrest more say they will come forward to submit their complaints to the commission after similar experiences.

Meanwhile, the country’s anti-corruption unit is opposing bail stating that the PMD is likely to interfere with witnesses since most of the witnesses fall under her span of control in her capacity as the Provincial Mining Director of Mashonaland West.

BREAKING: Mashwest PMD arrested for criminal abuse of office

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BREAKING: Mashwest PMD arrested for criminal abuse of office

Mashonalandwest Provincial Mining Director (PMD) Ms Sibongubuhle Mpindiwa has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for criminal abuse of office.

ZACC speaks on charges Mashwest PMD is facing

Mining Zimbabwe visited ZRP Chinhoyi and the Police confirmed that Mpindiwa was in their custody after she was dropped off by ZACC officers.

We proceeded to the ZACC offices and the Anti-corruption agency confirmed she was arrested but referred all questions to ZACC Commissioner John Makamure who confirmed that the PMD was arrested for criminal abuse of office. Makamure said he will provide further information once it becomes available.

This is a developing story more to follow…

Gold buying prices Monday 10 October 2022

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Gold buying prices Monday 10 October 2022

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices Monday 10 October 2022.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$51.80/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$50.98/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$50.44/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$49.89/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$49.07/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH US$51.80/g

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

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

RioZim buys a Namibian Diamond Mine for US$58million

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RioZim buys a Namibian Diamond Mine for US$58million

RioZim Ltd. has bought Sperrgebiet Diamond Mine in Namibia as the Zimbabwean group seeks to expand in Africa.

“The group has been trying to broaden its footprint in the mining industry in Africa and this acquisition was part of the strategy,” Tawanda Andrew Chiurayi, RioZim’s group company secretary, said in a written response to questions from Bloomberg News. “We also want to diversify our assets and geographies.”

Chiurayi declined to disclose the amount RioZim paid for the mine. The acquisition cost $58 million, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named as the price hasn’t been disclosed.

Sperrgebiet holds two onshore and two offshore mining licenses, within Luderitz’s protected diamond zones, according to the company’s website.

RioZim is also planning further investments in base and precious metals in Zimbabwe, after spending more than $150 million at its gold mine and a new plant at the Murowa diamond mine, Chiurayi said. Output at Murowa tripled in September following the investment, he said.

RioZim, which also has interests in coal and a nickel refinery, said rules that oblige miners in Zimbabwe to switch 40% of their income into local currency are proving a drag on its operations.

“Forex shortages and power shortages are seriously hampering progress, but our belief in the long term is undeterred,” Chiurayi said.

Bloomberg

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