Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

AN investor has come to the rescue of Kamativi residents who have gone for more than a decade without access to clean water after installing two solar powered boreholes.

The former tin producing town whose inhabitants have been reeling from lack of access to potable water following the closure of the mining company in 1994 due to a drop in global prices of the mineral had their situation worsen following the vandalism of copper cables.

This adversely affected the pumping of water to residents forcing them to walk long distances to a local dam which exposed them to diseases, risks of drowning and crocodile attacks.

Kamativi Mining Company (Private) Limited (KMC), has been supporting the community through various interventions since they begun prospecting for minerals at the old tin mine 3 years ago.

One such intervention which has been received with joy by the community of Kamativi which had slid into oblivion was the installation of two solar powered boreholes earlier this year which have been serving the two primary schools and community at large. In addition, the company donated 12 high-capacity solar batteries used by Kamativi Clinic to replace the ones that had worn out exposing the health facility to storage challenges for medicines.

The company was instrumental in the provision of water at the height of the pandemic by providing a water bowser to supply the precious liquid to communities which was complemented by a donation of masks, soaps, fuel and distribution of Covid-19 related information through printing of posters and flyers.

KMC’s spokesperson, Mr Turkey Liang told Chronicle that they had decided to begin their corporate social responsibility role way before commencing production after being moved by the plight of the residents who were lacking basic social amenities such as clean water.

“From the time we have been here doing exploration we have been carrying out our corporate social responsibility part by supporting the community through various interventions such as ensuring provision of clean water which was a huge challenge to residents. We also donated paints and cement to the primary school while we replaced solar batteries to the local clinic to help in powering it. All these initiatives have been undertaken before we have begun to get revenue from our investment. KMC will continue to do our role on the social responsibility side to develop our community and benefit our people,” said Mr Liang.

The community has also benefited through a donation of sporting kit consisting of footballs and uniforms.

He said in addition to the water provision intervention the company would also reconnect the community that has been living in the dark to the electricity grid while also rehabilitating the water supply system to ensure there is running water in the homes during the plant construction stage.

Mr Liang said the mining company which was at exploration stage with minerals such as tin, tantalite, beryllium and lithium likely to be mined at the end of 2023 would create job opportunities for around 500 locals.

Ward councillor Jacob Nyoni said he was impressed by the social responsibility role that KMC was playing in developing his community which had been reeling in poverty since the closure of the tin mine 28 years ago leading to economic and social amenities collapse.

“When this project came here, we never expected what they were doing. Now we realise they are not here to harvest our resources and leave us poorer as has been happening in other places. It was a sorry state. People were fetching water from unsafe sources such as dams which were shared by cattle and goats. Water provision was one of the important interventions done by this company.

“Since 1994 we had been drinking untreated water as it was pumped straight from the dam into the tanks and straight to the communities. Over the past 4 years after the electricity cable were stolen, we have literally had no water, a situation that could have really costs us lives during the peak of Covid 19 had it not been for this company,” he said.

The company has electrified the police station and some houses while developments are underway for the construction of a line to connect to the 33Kv transmission meant to eventually light up the ghost town.

Meanwhile Kamativi Residents Association (KARA) secretary, Mr Mathias Sibanda said the investment was worthwhile while praising the investor for employing a different approach of first taking care of the community before realising profits.

“We have been waiting for this kind of development for a very long time. Since the closure of Kamativi mine we have not had an investor but since the Chinese came who have been exploring over the past 3 years we have got hope that something is coming to our town.

“We are very happy about it, especially with what they have done so far. They have shown us that we are heading for what we had been expecting for a very long time. They haven’t  started production but they have shown a lot of social responsibility by supporting our  clinics, schools and community. They are within the framework of Government’s vision 2030 of developing the economy and bettering communities.”

The company which recently held a stakeholders meeting with sections that included Government departments, traditional and political leadership and residents among others to familiarise them with the project whose production is expected to begin at the end of 2023.

The Chronicle

The Zimbabwe Diamond, Allied and Mineral Workers Union Zdamwu) has described as peanuts the 108% salary increase approved by the National Employment Council, Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (Amwuz) and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CMZ) on May 19.

Zdamwu secretary-general, Justice Chinhema yesterday described the salary increment as another slap in the face for the industry.

“Even if they negotiate 500% — as long it is in local currency it is a non-starter because the only solution is a United States dollar salary,” Chinhema said.

Chinhema said before last week’s salary increase, the official exchange rate was pegged at US$359.

“So the increase of the minimum wage is US$1 up to December 2022. Rates change every week and we doubt that by December we will still be alive. Cooking oil is now US$6 from US$3,50 for two litres.  We need currency stability,“ he said, pointing out that mine workers in other African countries like Ghana earned US$700 minimum wage.

With the current adjustment, the highest paid employee will now be getting $215 872, while the lowest paid mine worker will get $93 074 per month.

Before the adjustment, the least paid employee was earning $44 640 a month, while the highest paid was getting $103 536.

In US dollar terms and using the official exchange rate the least paid worker is entitled to US$198, while the highest paid should get US$459.

The new salary structure is for the period April 1 to December 31, 2022.

Newsday

SHANGHAI Stock Exchange-listed global battery maker, Huayou Cobalt will pour US$300 million into Arcadia Lithium Mine and construct a processing plant to produce 400 000 tonnes of lithium concentrate per annum.

Huayou deployed executives at Arcadia Mine last month, as the firm prepares the groundwork for full-scale exploitation at one of the world’s biggest lithium
endowments.

“We intend to develop the project rapidly over the next year and invest US$300 million to develop the mine and construct a process plant with a capacity to treat around 4,5 million tonnes of ore and produce 400 000 tonnes of lithium  concentrate per annum,” Huayou said in a statement obtained by NewsDay Business yesterday.

Funds were transferred to Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe in March, according to corporate data.

“This will be a shot in the arm for Zimbabwe’s economy, and contribute towards achieving the National Development Strategy 1 set out by the government. At least 600 locals are to be employed during the construction phase with figures rising to between 700 and 900 when production goes into full gear. The majority of these will go to local people,” read the executive statement, which was availed ahead of a tour of Arcadia Mine later yesterday.

Huayou said it was “super excited” to be in Zimbabwe where it had clinched the “biggest” lithium deal, from where it will champion the transformation of the southern African country into one of the key factors in global electric vehicle production.

Lithium is a key raw material in the production of batteries from electric vehicles.

The statement said Huayou began research into Arcadia Mine in July last year, after which a feasibility study was initiated.

In August, Prospect Resources, which controlled the resource, opened a structured bidding process for partnerships in developing the asset, and a deal was inked in December, after which a 14-member Huayou team arrived in April “to facilitate transaction of the deal”.

The team included Haijun Zhu, who is now general manager at the operation.

Prospect managing director and CEO Sam Hosack recently pointed out that Huayou’s pedigree as a leading electric vehicle battery precursor producer opens up opportunities in Zimbabwe and supports its strategy both in Zimbabwe and the broader sub-Saharan region.

“The transaction, being the culmination of years of effort of progressing and developing the Arcadia Project to this point is a testament to the skills and expertise of the Prospect team, who are now firmly focused on the path ahead, to build the next iteration of Prospect, a developer of lithium and battery and electrification metals projects,” he
said.

Newsday

Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has announced that it is holding Bucks Mine owners responsible for the accident that claimed 7 lives at the mine and intends to sue the miner for gross negligence.

Rudairo Mapuranga

This comes after seven miners from Bucks Mine in Colleen Bawn died after hoisting ropes to a skip hoisting the 7 up the shaft from underground snapped, plunging them back on a free-fall of about 200 meters.

ZDAMWU General Secretary Justice Chinhema said his organisation was ready to sue Bucks Mine owners and he also sent condolences to the families of the deceased.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has announced that  Ezweni Masuku, who was the Mine Manager, Chrispen Ndlovu, a male adult aged 32 years of Nekatambe Hwange, Wisdom Munsaka, a male adult aged 28 years of Sinamagonde, Binga, Desire Ncube, a male adult aged 25 years of Hwange, Panganai Chimuka, a male adult aged 23 years, Mbangeni Chester, a male adult aged 59 years and Abie Mudimba (no further particulars known) died in the accident.

“The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union would like to express its heartfelt condolences to the families of seven mine workers who recently died at Bucks Mine in Gwanda owned by Mr Philisani Moyo together with his brother Fisani Moyo. We are saddened that families have now lost breadwinners in an accident which we believe was avoidable.

“We are holding the mine owners responsible and they must be brought to account. We intend to sue the mine owners for gross negligence.

“We have gathered that the accident happened when the workers were being hoisted to the surface after the end of their shift and a rope hauling their lift snapped as they were about to reach the surface. Resulting in them plunging back down into the shaft which is more than 200 meters deep leading to their death.

“The bodies were retrieved on Tuesday through assistance from Mines Ministry officials and the Vumbachikwe Mine rescue team.

“We have gathered that the mine had been abandoned for too long and we were told it was recently acquired by new owners who only resumed operations earlier this month.

“Zdamwu is going to be engaging the families of those who died for purposes of compensation. We have done this before and we intend to help the families in suing the mine owners for negligence.

“We have said time and again that safety regulations are not observed in small-scale mines and artisanal mining. This could have been avoided at all costs had proper safety standards been practised. People, employees must know that lives of Mineworkers matter first before profits and their own interests.

“We further call on the authority to invest more in education and awareness of miners on Safety and Health in the Mining Industry.  Many lives have been lost and it must be addressed,” Chinhema said.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges mine owners to religiously follow safety, health and environmental regulations at mine sites to ensure the safety of workers.

Norton legislator Temba Mliswa cracked the whip on the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) for their relaxed approach to enforcement of environmental laws, following Afrochine and small scale miners’ environmentally unfriendly operations in his constituency.

Prince Sunduzani

Chrome miner Afrochine is up in arms with Norton miners, farmers and the community over several issues, including environmental degradation, ill-treatment of workers, shortchanging tributaries and not undertaking corporate social responsibility.

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), EMA, and Norton Legislator had to intervene last week, following several complaints from the community.

The agencies, together with Afrochine management toured Afrochine operations to ascertain the veracity of the community’s claims.

The company agreed to address issues raised by the community, including covering up their pits and sharing resources with the community.

We are grateful that after our interaction Afrochine has decided to help the local community as part of their corporate social responsibility. They will put water points in various areas which previously didnt have any water. pic.twitter.com/NnO6PnkZbH

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 20, 2022

Speaking during the meeting, he said EMA has the power to recommend the cancellation of Afrochine’s licence for non-compliance and asked the agency to submit a report to his office for forwarding to the Minister of Mines.

He said EMA has the power through the country’s laws but was taking a lazy approach while calling on the Agency to act swiftly to address the issues.

In an interview with Mining Zimbabwe on the sidelines of the meeting, after the tour, Norton Member of Parliament Tember Mliswa said the country has good laws and the issue is in the enforcement of the laws.

He said government agencies should carryout out their mandate to protect the community and environment.

“The people who are supposed to be custodians of the laws, in terms of compliance are not acting. There is no compliance and there’s no enforcement. There is no law being enforced. Local communities must be empowered, not only through jobs but corporate social responsibility in terms of basic social amenities, schools clinics infrastructure, water and sanitation. Weare not seeing that from these companies and I think the indigenisation act was b very clear. They are profiteering more than giving back to the community which is giving them money,” said Hon Mliswa.

It emerged that the mining companies in the Norton areas were not rehabilitating the environment leaving open pits which are posing a danger to the community and livestock.

The Norton Legislator also visited Agate and Blaze brick company’s operations, after it defied an order to fill up pits from their extraction activities last year.

Instead of complying with the order, the defiant company went on to open new pits, much to the discontentment of the Norton community.

The visit resulted in the cancellation of their licence and shutting down of their operations.

“Today we visited one of them Agate & Blaze which moulds bricks. Since over a year ago when Environment Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu visited, they have not filled up the huge holes from which they extracted soil. Instead, they have opened new ones,” said Mliswa after the visit.

“Resultantly EMA had to issue an order for them to close. They were told last year to rehabilitate the land by filling it up with rubbles and planting trees but have done none of that. The pits remain a danger to both humans and livestock.”