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Chisi still observed in the mining sector

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Chisi still observed in the mining sector

Artisanal and small scale miners in the Norton constituency are still observing Chisi as an aspect of our culture as Zimbabweans. In an interview with Mining Zimbabwe, artisanal miners indicated that this is done to respect the owners of the land( the ancestors), as well as to give themselves a day to rest.

Mirirai Melissa Ngoya

Taking a tour in the Norton mining areas last Thursday, it came to our attention that mining operations are not undertaken on Thursdays which they recognize as Chisi, a day set aside for them to rest and to honour Zimbabwean historical culture and traditions.

The Chairman of the Norton Miners Association Mr Moyo had this to say, “Most small scale miners believe in upholding cultural values, hence the need to respect Chisi. Just like in a Muslim religious circle whereby Muslims believe in their Fridays hence they close all their businesses for a certain time.”

Therefore, this signifies that the operations being performed by small scale miners are in line with our cultural panorama as a nation since the miners are following what our forefathers used to do.

Credit must be given to these miners for adhering to our customs, this has actually seen the small scale mining sector producing and delivering more gold to Fidelity. It takes culturally motivated individuals like these to mend Zimbabwe’s economic sphere because by virtue of them being miners they saw it necessary to observe the ‘archaic’ rules of labor, making them effective once again.

“For us who believe in Chisi, we respect it as per our custom and the good news about Chisi in the mining sector is that it is not 24hours but 12-6hours depending on what the spirit medium says. Thus, if we believe in our traditional culture in the mining industry, we must also observe the rules and regulations involved in these operations”, said Moyo.

Further, one artisanal miner anonymously said, “I have learnt to do what my forefathers used to do, that is respecting the Zimbabwean soils by observing Chisi.”

“It is important to adhere to our customs and tradition at a community and national level as this will open up many blessings from the ancestors”, he added.

Prosperity is the utmost stage of intensive learning, one becomes successful in learning through listening and obedience. Thus, the things which may be deemed unnecessary or archaic are the root cause of our downfall as a nation because culture is what identifies us as a people.

Gemstones types and location found in Zimbabwe

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Gemstones types and location found in Zimbabwe

Gemstones types and locations found in Zimbabwe

Precious Stones

With reference to the Precious Stones Trade (PST) Act Chapter 21:06, “precious stones” are rough or uncut diamonds and emeralds. Local dealers have to be licensed by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development through the issuance of Precious Stones Licences, to trade in precious stones as defined by the PST Act.

Diamond

Diamond (C) is a crystalline material made of carbon atoms, in the cubic system. This is one of nature’s most admired minerals and gemstones. Occurrences in Zimbabwe are associated with kimberlitic and placer deposits. Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, therefore all rough diamond exports are accompanied by a Kimberly Process Certificate, issued by MMCZ. Other uses: Industrial (cutting tools/blades/saws/drill bits/ abrasives) Mine Locations: River Ranch Diamond Mine in Beitbridge, Murowa Diamond Mine in Zvishavane, Chiadzwa Diamond Fields in Marange District of Mutare and DTZ on Chimanimani. Availability: Zimbabwe currently produces over one million carats per year.

Gemstones

The gemstone is the green variety of beryl, coloured by chromium. The trademark Zimbabwean Sandawana emeralds are characteristically yellowish-green with tremolite needles as inclusions. The Sandawana minerals maintain the lovely yellowish-green colour even in the smallest of pieces and are most suited to watch and fine jewellery. Mine Locations: Mweza Range in Mberengwa, Hurungwe. Availability: Mostly in small stone sizes

Semi-Precious Stones

Amethyst

 

This gemstone is the purple to violet variety of quartz. The gemstones can be supplied in rough or polished form. Mine Location: Northern border areas Availability: Good quality material is limited.

 

 

Alexandite

 

This is a rare and valuable gemstone, which is emerald green in natural light and red in artificial incandescent light. The colour is attributed to the presence of chromium ions in the crystal structure of the gemstone. Mine Location: The famous Novello claims in Masvingo Availability: Clean material suitable for polishing is rare.

 

Aquamarine

This is the blue or aqua variety of beryl. The bulk of Zimbabwe aquamarine production is pale to medium sky blue colour while a small percentage is bluish-green in colour. The bluish-green beryl can be heat treated to give the desirable colour of aquamarine. Mines Locations: Karoi (mainly the Mwami Mica fields), Mt Darwin and Mutoko in small scale workings Availability: Size – bulk of production in small stones (0.5g pieces in unpolished stones), bigger stones up to 2g pieces also available but in very small quantities.

 

Heliodor

Golden yellow variety of beryl. Mines Locations: see aquamarine Availability: see aquamarine

Goshenite

GosheniteColourless variety of beryl Mines Locations: see aquamarine Availability: see aquamarine

Chrysoberyl

Chrysoberyl (BeAl2O4) mainly occurs in pegmatite, greisens and hydrothermal deposits. Common varieties of the mineral in Zimbabwe are transparent chrysoberyl, chrysoberyl cat’s eye and alexandrite. The semi-precious varieties (transparent chrysoberyl and chrysoberyl cat’s eye )usually occurs in golden yellow, yellowish green to brownish green shades. Chrysoberyl cat’s eye also known as cymophane displays a phenomenon called chatoyancy (cat’s eye effect) Mine Location: Karoi-Hurungwe District in small scale workings Availability: Usually in small sizes less than a carat when cut and polished.

 

Lolite

Iolite or cordierite sometimes referred to as water sapphire because of its resemblance to sapphire is found in deposits associated with pegmatites. Zimbabwean iolite has a saturated sapphire blue colour, is reasonably priced and is available in big quantities. Mine Location: Makuti (Northern part Zimbabwe) from small scale workings Availability: Readily available

 

Tourmaline

Tourmaline occurs in wide range of colours. Varieties available in Zimbabwe are green, watermelon (rare in good qualities) blue and black tourmaline occurring in greisens and pegmatite deposits. All these varieties are mainly available in the pencil crystal form. Mine Location: Karoi – Hurungwe District from small scale workings Availability: Readily available especially the dark shades of green and black

 

 

 

Falcon Gold gets 12 month’s loan reprieve

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Falcon Gold gets 12 month’s loan reprieve

Falcon Gold has been given a year’s breathing space to repay their loans by the Canadian based gold miner, New Dawn Mining Corporation,  amid evidence that the latter is in financial dire straits.

The decision was communicated recently by Falcon Gold’s board chairperson, Ian Saunders after clarifying the critical financial position which the company is going through.

“We obtained a letter of support from the ultimate holding company New Dawn Mining Corporation, which states that they will not demand repayment of loans in the next 12 months and will extend principal repayments due for another year,” Saunders said.

This comes against a background where the company’s long-term financial obligations that are not due within the next twelve months are currently standing at $33.4 million while debts due for payment within a year are standing at $16 million.

Saunders reported that the group sustained losses attributable to the shareholders of the group during the six months ended 31 March, 2019 of $27 million which increased significantly from the $2 million loss recorded in the previous year.

The Group had a net working capital deficit at 31 March, 2019 of $11, 3 million and negative equity of $44, 3 million as at 31 March 2019.

“The board and management, with the assistance of the majority shareholder, are exploring options for additional US$2.5m – US$3m of funding to enable repair of the mill and resuscitation of mining operations but have not finalised the funding structure,” Saunders added.

The company’s shares were suspended from trading on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) on the 5th of February this year, after an application by the company to ZSE in which it indicated it was yet to finalise the September 2018 financial statements .

However, after the publication of financial results for the half year which was done recently, the company will be making an application to ZSE to resume trading of the shares. Source: Newsday

Villagers up in arms with illegal tantalite miners

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Villagers up in arms with illegal tantalite miners

Villagers in Pfungwe are up in arms with illegal miners who are destroying the environment in search of tantalite mineral.

In a movie-like style, the illegal miners ransacked parts of Sowa area before they were intercepted by the local leadership, resulting in them fleeing from the area.

Speaking during a tour of the affected area, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) district administrator Douglas Hungwe revealed that his office was notified by the villagers on the presence of the illegal miners who were mining in the area using heavy machinery.

“We received a tip-off from the villagers and visited this area only to find some illegal miners operating there. They had heavy machinery and we were surprised that as the leadership we were not aware of their presence,” Hungwe said.

“I asked them for their papers and EIA (environmental impact assessment) certificate, but they failed to produce it. We alerted the police and as they were leaving with four loaded trucks they were arrested at a roadblock. We were later informed that they were fined for transportation of ore without permit.”

The illegal miners had dug deep gullies in the area as they searched for a yet-to-be-known mineral and silted two streams in the process. After the interception, they have since vacated the area leaving deep pits, uprooted trees and gullies which is detrimental to both humans and livestock.

Ward 5 councillor, Wilford Katsande told journalists that the miners were ferrying the rocks to Norton, saying they are used to produce dinner plates and ceramic tiles.

“After being notified by the villagers of the invasion by these illegal miners, I confronted one of the men who was operating a machine who revealed that they were taking the stones to Norton where they are used to produce dinner plates. I also gathered that the stone, which they were mining is rich in tin, tantalite and can be used to manufacture cement,” Katsande said. Source: Newsday

African Chrome Fields shuts down

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African Chrome Fields shuts down

ONE of the country’s largest ferrochrome producers, African Chrome Fields (ACF), has shut down its mining operations in Kwekwe, laying off over 500 workers.

The company is owned by South African businessman Zunaid Moti, with the Zimbabwe National Army believed to be dormant partners in the company.

Moti told Southern Eye that he was under pressure to pull out of Zimbabwe because of the country’s negative image and the collapsing economy which was affecting operations at ACF. The business mogul had sunk over US$250 million in the project.

The drastic drop of chrome price in China has also impacted the company, established five years ago amid pomp and fanfare, with then Vice-President President Emmerson Mnangagwa and army general Constantino Chiwenga officiating at the event.

“Some people would not want to do business with us because we are in Zimbabwe. But the economic meltdown in the southern African country has also caused a negative impact as well,” Moti said.

ACF became a force to reckon with in the chrome mining sector, competing with Zimasco, after it invested over $200 million in the construction of an aluminothermic plant and six other plants that were set to generate 10 000 tonnes of ultra-low carbon ferrochrome monthly within 11 months.

Its establishment in 2014 came as a reprieve to the Kwekwe community, after a Chinese investor had failed to run the country’s largest chrome smelting company, Zimasco, laying off thousands of workers.

ACF, situated along the Kwekwe-Mvuma Highway, has the largest smelting ferrochrome plants after Zimasco.

Workers’ representative Chaipa Magura said company management in a meeting held on September 6 agreed to stop further retrenchments and pay outstanding salaries. However, only security details will be at the premises.

“After consultation between all present, the parties agreed that management pays outstanding salaries and workers shall be called to work when need arises with a seven-day notice. As for now, security details are to remain at the sites,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Mines and Development minister Winston Chitando were fruitless as he continuously said he was busy.

A senior official in the Mines ministry said the drop of chrome price in China the country’s sole market had affected many chrome companies’ operations in Zimbabwe.

“It’s not only ACF that has been affected, but we have big companies such as Nelson in Gweru that have been hammered by the drop in chrome price. We currently have China as our major market and they recently announced the drop in price with over 40%,” said the official who could not be named for security reasons. Source: Newsday

Redoxide, Gold and Iron-ore going to waste in Norton

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Redoxide, Gold and Iron-ore going to waste in Norton

The dualisation of Harare-Bulawayo highway is using tonnes of unprocessed sand which consist of gold, iron ore 52.33 per cent, and red oxide ore with 19.68 per cent in its construction as confirmed by the department of metallurgy. This was after the Norton Miners association Chairperson Mr Previlage Moyo noticed the high dominant red color at the site, took samples for assessment.

Rudairo Mapuranga

 

Valuable minerals are being used excessively in the construction of one of Zimbabwe’s major roads due to ignorance and lack of synergies between ministries, communities and Mining Associations, Norton Miners Association chairperson Privilege Moyo has revealed.

Clearly visible (redoxide in Norton)

“We have noticed that valuable minerals are being wasted due to ignorance and lack of synergies between ministries, communities and mining associations,” said Moyo.

Moyo also said that though the government’s initiative of dualising main roads in the country, the construction of Bulawayo highway has used tonnes of unprocessed soil which has over 52 per cent of iron ore.

According to Moyo, gold and other valuable minerals are being lost in the construction of the road.

Norton Minerals used for rod making

“May we give an example of the current Norton-Bulawayo highway construction, we did notice that iron ore with 52.33% red oxide ore, 19.68% iron (tested by the department of Metallurgy on the 6th of May 2019 certificate no. 000739C), Gold and 2 more other mineral ores which we could not identify due to lack of technological support are being used as waste raw materials in the road works” said Moyo.

Moyo further posited that the government should look into other mining activities that are being carried out by certain firms targeting to hide the fact that they are mining certain minerals which their mining certificate repudiates, thereafter failing to declare their production to the government.

“The second area of concern is the raw materials and that includes the river-sand being used by the Chinese tile factory. We believe most of our rivers consist of alluvial gold and other mineral elements. On the 9th of May 2016, just a paragraph in the Chronicle said,“Excavation associated with the upgrading of the Kariba South power station along the shores of Lake Kariba led to the discovery of Gold & Platinum group of mineral deposits” Moyo said.

Norton Mineral Mountains

“Discoveries were made during sand abstraction in Gache Gache. Our plea is, may the so-called raw materials from mining be extracted off the minerals before being used.Redoxide and Iron Metallugy results

Also, may the government allow knowledge transfer between the so-called technical people (surveyors, geologists etc) and the miners or associations in order to boost the industry. Once miners are equipped they will be able to use the knowledge in mining various minable minerals like copper, manganese, gemstones, iron, tantalite etc”, said the Norton Miners Association chairperson.

ZMF suggests accreditation for ASSM

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ZMF suggests accreditation for ASSM

ZMF spokesperson and public relations officer Mr Dosman Mangisi and Mr Privy Moyo from the Norton Miners Association stressed that it is of utmost importance for miners to have accreditation cards for identification.

Mirirai Melissa Ngoya

Mr Mangisi highlighted on the importance of an artisanal miner having a mining Identity card as he said, “plans are being put into place for our artisanal miners to be accredited so as to make it easy to identify them”

“IDs, registration for artisanal miners will help one to be recognized and to know for sure whether or not he belongs to that particular area”

This has been further consolidated by Mr Moyo who said that it is of great significance to accredit miners as this will reduce fierce attacks in the bush since an id card will be required when one invades a certain claim.

“it is important to accredit these miners as this will lessen attacks in the bush since every miner will be asked to first produce  an ID card once they arrive at someone else’s  territory.”

This is actually a recommendable move as it will help in securing of various mining claims because if one fails to produce the identity card, it will automatically mean that he or she is a threat, hence they will become eligible for prosecution.

Mr Mangisi further indicated that Mashurugwi is a coined name by robbers in the mining sector hence anyone thinking of robbing will readily say ‘we are the Mashurugwi’. Thus, providing IDs for the miners will help in the identification of robbers and real miners.

“For one to have access to the ID card, they have to pay a certain amount which will be determined by certain factors”, said Mangisi.

This action can been seen as an effective way of eradicating the reign of terror which is haunting the mining sector. The massacres that have been so rampant in the mining industry will end up categorising Zimbabwean gold under bloody minerals.

Mashurugwi killed 8, people protest against the police’s incompetence

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Mashurugwi killed 8, people protest against the police’s incompetence

The famed Mashurugwi are said to have killed eight people in Glendale two months ago and now residents are protesting against the police’s failure to take appropriate action.

Rudairo Mapuranga

Yesterday, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Fortune Chasi said that people in Glendale held a meeting in which they blasted the police for their failure to take Mashurugwi to book.

 

The Minister also said that the machete wielding miners have killed up to 8 innocent citizens in Glendale for the past two months. The notorious gang who invaded Glendale for slightly over two months are believed to be carrying out a reign of terror in all the mining towns.

 

“MaShurugwi have taken over Glendale and 8 people have been killed over the last 2 months. Residents protested against the police for failing to protect the citizens…” said Chasi.

 

The residents of Glendale bemoan the loss of their freedom in a peaceful community they once lived in which is now becoming a terrorist land with the machete wielding miners taking control over the community.

 

The call to arrest Mashurugwi has been popular in the country with some members of the central intelligent office putting the Zimbabwe Republic Police to the task, whilst shunning the existence of machete wielding miners as these would lead to the formation of a terror group like the Boko Haram.

 

Zimbabwe Miners Federation has since distanced itself from the so called Mashurugwi and they even called on the police to take action against these miners whom they would not identify as miners but robbers.

 

Ever since the Mashurugwi became popular, no raids or imperative operations have been carried out by the police. The populace is now of the view that the Mashurugwi are politically connected.

Premier seeks EPO for Zulu lithium project

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Premier seeks EPO for Zulu lithium project

PREMIER African Minerals will soon meet the Mining Affairs Board over the company’s application for an Exclusive Prospecting Order (EPO) at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalite project in Matabeleland South province.

The Zimbabwe-focused and diversified mining group, which recently applied for the EPO at Zulu, also announced in July this year that it was waiting for Zesa to hook its RHA Tungsten Mine up to the national grid to enable production to get underway within four months.

Chief executive officer, Mr George Roach said: “I am pleased to be able to confirm that we have a further invitation to attend a meeting with the Mining Affairs Board in Harare at the end of this month in regard to the ongoing exclusive prospecting order application at our Zulu Lithium and Tantalum project”.

He also said site work at Zulu has begun with the construction of a suitable substation for electrification of the mine.

“In respect of RHA Tungsten Mine, site work has commenced with the construction of a suitable substation for electrification of the mine. 

“We have also been able to better assess the overall funding still required…I expect to be in a position to better assess the timeline for a return to production thereafter,” said Mr Roach. 

Meanwhile, Premier has said that its non-executive director and chairman, Mr Michael Foster, has resigned. Mr Roach will assume the vacant position as interim chairman for an initial period of 30 days.

Premier African Minerals is a multi-commodity mining and natural resource development company focused on Southern Africa with its RHA Tungsten and Zulu Lithium projects in Zimbabwe.

The company has a diverse portfolio of projects, which include tungsten, rare earth elements, lithium and tantalum in Zimbabwe, encompassing brownfield projects with near-term production potential to grass-roots exploration. 

In addition, the firm holds 5 010 333 shares in Circum Minerals Limited, the owners of the Danakil Potash Project in Ethiopia, which has the potential to be a world-class asset.

Source: Chronicle

“MaShurugwi” run for their lives in Bindura and Glendale

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“MaShurugwi” run for their lives in Bindura and Glendale
  • Houses property destroyed
  • Youth claim to be protecting the Defenceless
  • 12 arrested

ZANU-PF youths in Mashonaland Central province went on the rampage last week, destroying property as they clashed with artisanal miners in Glendale and Bindura.

WATCH:

On Thursday, the violent clashes resulted in two commuter omnibus hired by artisanal miners to escape from the area being burnt.

In Bindura, the youths had a meeting with Zimbabwe Republic Police officers before going into sex workers houses driving them away, vandalising houses and destroying property in the process.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the law enforcement agents were investigating the violent incidents and 12 suspects had been arrested.

Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Lans Ruwizhi Farando confirmed the incident, saying they were protecting defenceless residents from violent artisanal miners, popularly known as MaShurugwi.

“Indeed, we are driving MaShurugwi away from our province because they are causing unrest,” Farando said.

“The so called MaShurugwi are raping women, stealing vendors’ goods and illegally mining on private properties. That is not tolerated at all in the province because we are defending our President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legacy by maintaining peace.”

Meanwhile, artisanal miners who spoke to NewsDay blamed the youths for attacking them because they were no longer paying homage to their leaders.

“What the youths are doing is very unfair. We use to pay tribute to Farando and his colleague John Ngwenya, but we decided to stop after they started demanding too much gold and money, hence they mobilised youths to attack us, but we will not fold our hands while being attacked because they have declared war and the battle lines have been drawn,” an artisanal miner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Farando distanced himself from the corrupt activities, saying some Zanu-PF officials were in that habit and were now trying to tarnish his image.

“That is not very correct, yes, we have officials in our party, who are in that habit of collecting tribute, but I am nowhere near that. The guys are just trying to tarnish my image since I am the youth leader,” he said.

Bindura South legislator Remigious Matangira (Zanu-PF), who is known for leading artisanal miners in Mt Darwin, bemoaned the attack saying the youths were actually attacking the President since he comes from the Midlands province.

“These attacks are not necessary. By simply driving another artisanal miner away simply because he or she comes from Midlands is nonsensical, considering that our President comes from Midlands. So in other words, the youths are actually attacking the President,” Matangira said. Source: Newsday

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