Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

MINE workers who were exposed to harmful substances and ended up contracting Silicosis or Tuberculosis at South African gold mines are set to receive compensation ranging from R10 000 to R500 000.

This development comes after the High Court in Johannesburg approved the settlement in the Silicosis and Tuberculosis class action reached on 26 July 2019 and came into effect on 10 December 2019 after all conditions had been fulfilled.

Dependants of mineworkers who have since passed away, a wife, children or life partner, will receive the payments.

In a statement yesterday, the Tshiamo Trust which was established to carry out the terms of the settlement said all eligible miners should come forward with their details.

Eligible claimants who were gold mineworkers between March 12, 1965 and December 10, 2019 will be compensated.

“The Tshiamiso Trust has been established to carry out the terms of the settlement and to pay monetary compensation to eligible claimants. An eligible claimant will be entitled to receive a once-off payment of between R10 000 and R250 000, depending on the nature and seriousness of the disease and harm suffered by such claimant,” read the statement.

“In some severe cases, an eligible claimant may be able to receive a larger amount of up to R500 000.”

An eligible claimant according to Tshimiso Trust is a person who is a member of companies who meets the requirements of the trust to receive monetary compensation.

“All class members can and are invited to submit a claim to the Tshiamiso Trust for monetary compensation, except for class members who opted out of the settlement. Details of how to submit a claim are provided on the trust’s website.

The full terms of the Settlement Agreement as well as the Court’s decision approving the Settlement Agreement is available on the same website,” read the same statement.

It said the eligible are persons who undertook work that exposed them to silica dust and contracted Silicosis or Tuberculosis.

“Dependants for example the wife, child or life partner of such a gold mine worker who passed away may also apply for compensation.

Claimants who live in South Africa can call the Trust’s toll-free call centre number to make an appointment at their closest lodgement office in South Africa. Those who live outside of South Africa can call the Trust’s call back number to make an appointment at a lodgement office in their country,” it said.

The Chronicle

Resources group Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc says first quarter gold production at its local unit — Blanket Gold Mine came in slightly lower than same period last year due to flooding.

The quarter under review is generally synonymous with rains which result in lower production due to flooding.

During the first quarter to March 31, 2021, Blanket Mine produced 13 197 ounces of gold and management remains upbeat of meeting its production guidance of between 61 000 — 67 000 ounces for the full year.

“Production in the first quarter of 2021 was slightly below our target and below the comparable quarter in 2020 albeit at a level which allows us to maintain our 2021 production guidance of 61 000 to 67 000 ounces for the full year.

“Gold production has often been lower in the first quarter of each year and increases in the following quarters. The rainy season this year saw unprecedented rainfall causing flooding at the mine and resulted in several lost shifts during the period.

“These temporary issues have now been rectified and with the central shaft now operational, we remain on track to hit our 80 000 ounces target in 2022,” said Caledonia chief executive officer Steve Curtis.

Earlier this month, the mining firm announced the central shaft at the Gwanda-based Blanket Mine operational.

The central shaft has been a culmination of a six-year project costing about US$67 million funded through internal cashflow initiatives.

For the 2020 financial year, the Blanket Gold Mine produced 57 899 ounces, a new record for annual production.

WINSTON Chitando (WC), the Mines and Mining Development minister is at the vortex of a massive push to transform Zimbabwe’s mining industry. The strategy is to make sure the industry takes its rightful position as one of the major drivers of Zimbabwe’s economy. Since taking over the hot seat in 2018, the former Mimosa Mining Company executive chairman has had to make a few hard decisions including revamping the country’s mining laws and unveiling a strategy that will see Zimbabwe generating US$12 billion from its resources annually by 2023. The industry generates about US$2 billion currently. While doubts about his ambitious targets still linger on, the minister this week took time to share the progress that his reform agenda has so far achieved with our Business Reporter, Freeman Makopa (FM). Here is how their discussion turned out. Below are excerpts of the interview:

FM: Talk about amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act has been going on for some time. How far have you gone?

WC: There are a couple of issues in terms of the update and the first one is the amendment of the Mines and Minerals Act. The amendments are quite advanced and the draft amendments are now going through the executive process for further review. We expect that in the next couple of weeks, we should be ready to move to the next step on the Bill. The ministry, working with Attorney-General’s office has now finalised the proposed amendments which are now going through due process. We will give an update as and when we will move on to the next step.

FM: Will this be the final thing on your agenda?

 WC: In terms of the legislative agenda there are two other Bills which are due for review. These are the Gold Trade Act and the Precious Stones Act. The strategy has been that we finalise amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act first then move on to do the God Trade Act and the Precious Stones Act because the Mines and Minerals Act is really the cornerstone of the mining industry. So we want to finalise that first and the other Acts, whilst they are independent, they largely fit in the Mines and Minerals Act.

FM:  Take us through the benefits the Mines and Minerals Act

 WC:  The major benefits of the revised Mines and Minerals Act among other benefits is that it now has principles of administrative justice which are being aligned to the new Constitution.

It defines for the first time small-scale miners. So by being able to define small-scale miners, it enables the government to be in a position to come up with policy interventions which are geared towards small-scale miners. At the moment, in terms of the law, all miners are classified as the same. It also strengthens the ‘Use it or Lose it’ principle.

There are a number of clauses which are in there. If you recall around November last year the government came up with a principle which was termed ‘Orderly Mining’, whereby the government wants to see mining grow in a responsible manner in line with the laws of the country. So you will find that renewal of mining claims will not be automatic. It won’t be just paying; it will be a question of checking that you are compliant with the law.

FM:  The coal mining sector has been affected by many challenges. Please take us through what is happening

WC:  Zimbabwe has recorded over 25 billion tonnes of coal reserves. Coal export is an area we want to participate in.

FM:  Is the system of registering mines now watertight?

WC: I am pleased to say the hardware for the implementation of the Mining Cadastre System will be on sight in the next few weeks. We believe that by, latest, end of June the hardware will be on site and the implementation of the Cadastre system will start immediately, essentially by data capture, which will take place throughout the provinces and we are targeting that we have that system operational as soon as possible. I am pleased to say computerisation of the mining system is now around the corner.

 FM: What has been taking place around the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative?

WC: Government is seized with the matter and we have the inter-ministerial committee on Mines and Finance who are looking at it, to look at the compliance of the EITI and when the time is ripe an update will be given accordingly.

On mineral leakages it is work in progress. It is an inter-ministerial intervention which includes other government departments which are seized with the matter. I think as it becomes necessary we can comment accordingly.