General Mining Regulations in Zimbabwe full document.
See document HERE
Bertha tunnel boring machine
Bertha was a 17.5 m diameter tunnel boring machine built specifically for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel project in Seattle. It was made by Hitachi Zosen Sakai Works in Osaka, Japan, and the machine’s assembly was completed in Seattle in June 2013. Tunnel boring began on July 30, 2013, with the machine originally scheduled to complete the tunnel in December 2015.
On December 6, 2013, work was halted approximately 330 m into the planned 2,830 m long route because of an unexpected impediment. Initially, it was thought that the machine had damaged several of its cutting blades after encountering a steel pipe that was used to measure groundwater in 2002 around the Alaskan Way Viaduct. However, subsequent investigations revealed that portions of the main bearing seal system were damaged, which caused the bearing to overheat during operation. Over the next two years, a recovery pit was dug from the surface in order to access and lift the machine’s cutter head for repair and partial replacement in 2015.
Bertha resumed tunnel boring on December 22, 2015, but was stopped in early January 2016 after a tethered barge in Elliott Bay damaged nearby piers and a sinkhole opened near the project site. Governor Jay Inslee halted all work on the tunnel on January 14, 2016, citing concern over public safety after the sinkhole incident. Digging briefly resumed on February 23, but was halted again for maintenance and inspections before resuming full operations on April 29. Tunnel boring was completed on April 4, 2017, with Bertha’s cutter head breaking into a disassembly vault at the tunnel’s north portal in South Lake Union.
In December 2015, WSDOT estimated that the tunnel would be completed and open to traffic in early 2018. The estimate was revised in July 2016 to open in early 2019; an estimated $223 million in cost overruns stem from the two-year delay of the machine.
See Bertha in action
Government urged to repeal the Gold Trade Act
ZIMBABWE Civil society organisations and captains of industry, among others, have called on the government to swiftly repeal the Gold Trade Act and formalise artisanal and small-scale mining to boost gold production.
In a communiqué, various stakeholders drawn from mining-impacted communities, civil society organisations, Parliament of Zimbabwe, artisanal and small-scale miners, captains of industry and the media fraternity urged the government to deal with the machete gold wars.
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a spate of violence in the gold sector, perpetrated by the machete gangs, resulting in disruption in gold production.
“The violence, if not contained, will paint the country’s investment climate in a gloomy picture, thus (prospective investors keen on responsible mineral supply chains will shun us).
Instead of viewing artisanal miners as genuine actors in the mining industry, they have been unfairly labelled perpetrators of machete violence,” reads part of the communiqué.
“We now, therefore, call on the government of Zimbabwe and relevant stakeholders to ensure that it moves swiftly to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining instead of criminalising this sector which has become a source of livelihood for many people trying to escape persistent poverty.”
The stakeholders called on government to put in place transparent and regulatory mechanisms that offer easy access to mining titles and legal production channels.
“Stringent and deterrent sentences must be endorsed, while the judiciary must ensure that bail is not granted to these human rights violators. The government of Zimbabwe must move a step further to gazette a statutory instrument whose objective would be to protect the citizens from machete-wielding gangs,” the communiqué further reads.
They also said government and stakeholders must begin a formal process to design and implement due diligence measures consistent with regional and international principles such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and embrace the guiding principles on business and human rights.
“The status of women in mining must be improved for the better. This is a prudent move in the promotion of responsible and safe artisanal and small-scale gold mining,” it also reads.
The communiqué was signed by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, Christian Aid, Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation, Zimbabwe Women in Mines and Mining Development Trust, the European Union, Mthandazo Women in Mining, media fraternity, PACT, Parliament of Zimbabwe, representatives from mining-affected communities, artisanal and small-scale miners, Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development, Zimbabwe Miners Federation, Zimbabwe Republic Police-Minerals Flora & Fauna Unit and the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association.
Newsday
Machete fight almost breaks out at a mine with hundreds
Machete fight almost breaks out at a mine with hundreds of illegal miners in Zimbabwe.
See video below:
Oil prices down
Oil prices fell nearly 1 percent yesterday as investors expected Libya’s oil production to eventually resume following a force majeure declared by the oil exporter on two major oilfields amid a military blockade.
Brent crude LCOc1 was down 56 cents, or nearly 0,9 percent, at $64,64 per barrel by 0748 GMT, after rising to its highest in more than a week on Monday. US West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was down 35 cents, or 0,6 percent, at $58,19 a barrel.
“The situation in Libya provided oil prices an early boost but the rally fizzled out as expectations remain that Libya’s oil production will eventually return to normal levels,” said Edward Moya, a market analyst with OANDA.
Two major oilfields in southwest Libya began shutting down on Sunday after a pipeline was closed off, potentially reducing national output to a fraction of its normal level, the country’s National Oil Corp (NOC) said. — Reuters.
Miners arrested for impersonating Police and Army officials
Police at Makosa in Mutoko have arrested seven illegal miners on allegations of masquerading as police officers and members of the Zimbabwe National Army.
They were arrested after invading Ngororombe Mine.
Police recovered three pairs of handcuffs and a Toyota Wish that was being used as a getaway vehicle.
The men invaded Ngororombe Mine, Chief Nechombo, Mudzi on 15/01/20 at about 1200 hours in a blue Toyota Wish AEV 9536. They allegedly arrested 2 mine workers, assaulted them with logs and took over the mining activities. A report was promptly made to the Police leading to their arrest and the recovery of 3 pairs of handcuffs, a button stick, and the Toyota wish vehicle.
Last week, 77 illegal miners were sentenced to two years in prison each by a circuit court in Shamva for illegal mining, while 112 got 50 days each on charges of criminal trespass.
The court remanded another 66 in custody pending trial and fined two for illegal possession of marijuana, one $80 (or 30 days) and one $500 (or five months).
More than 1 000 illegal structures have been demolished in the Mazowe area.
Gold price rises
Gold prices rose to a two-week high yesterday as the spread of a new virus in China stoked fears of a wider epidemic, sparking a sudden bout of risk aversion and sell-off in Asian stocks.
Spot gold prices touched their highest since January 8 at $1 568,35 and were up 0,1 percent to $1 563,01 per ounce by 0730 GMT. US gold futures were 0,3 percent higher at $1 564,10.
Asian shares slipped as the new coronavirus has spread to more Chinese cities and concerns mounted it could spread further with many travelling for the Lunar New Year holidays.
Gold prices were driven by “the rapid spread of the virus from Wuhan, China, which has caused panic”, said Margaret Yang Yan, a market analyst at CMC Markets.
“Chinese New Year holidays are going to worsen the situation as people are bound to travel in China ,” she added. — Reuters.
Kana MaShurugwi anotokuzeza
An advert purported to be from Guard Alert has been making rounds on social media with the inscription kana MaShurugwi anotokuzeza meaning even the MaShurugwi (Machete gangs) will be be afraid of you.
See image 
Two arrested for stealing gold ore at a mine in Colleen Bawn
Mqhelisi Moyo (26) and Edmore Zulu (32) who were part of a 15 men gang armed with machetes, axes and logs have been arrested for allegedly raiding and stealing gold ore at a mine in Colleen Bawn.
The men, both from Spitzkop Medium Suburb were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a robbery charge.
They were remanded in custody to January 26 for trial. Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said Moyo and Zulu, who were in the company of 13 others who are still at large, invaded Poly 4 Mine which belongs to Ms Grace Dube on December 4 at around 2 AM.
They allegedly stole 60 by 50kg bags of gold ore, a car battery, and two cellphones all valued at US$1 110.
“On 4 December at around 2 AM the two accused persons in the company of 13 others who are still at large drove to Poly 4 Mine in Colleen Bawn in two vehicles armed with machetes, logs, and axes.
“They found mine workers asleep in the open while others were asleep inside some makeshift tents. The gang began to assault the mineworkers using machetes and logs and the workers fled in different directions,” she said.
Miss Nare said the accused persons then loaded 60 by 50kg of gold ore into the two vehicles and also took a car battery and two cell phones before fleeing the scene.
She said the matter was reported to the police who conducted investigations leading to Moyo’s arrest.
Miss Nare said Moyo was arrested after he was identified by one of the workers as the driver of one of the two vehicles that were used in the raid.
She said Moyo then implicated Zulu leading to his arrest. She said the stolen property is worth US$1 101 and nothing was recovered.
Machete gangs have been terrorising people in gold-rich mining towns like Gwanda, Kwekwe, Kadoma, Bindura and Chegutu, where they are killing and sexually abusing gold miners and civilians.
Special courts have since been set up countrywide to deal specifically with organised machete gang attackers.
Speaking during the opening of the 2020 Legal Year last week, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said the specialised courts are expected to clamp down speedily and decisively on the machete gang menace following grisly murders, including that of a Kadoma police officer, robberies and vicious assaults.
Chief Justice Malaba strongly warned rogue elements behind the wave of machete and knife violence.
“As we speak, the country is gripped by another spate of violence perpetrated by the so-called machete gangs. The Judiciary acknowledges the work being undertaken by law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators of that violence to book,” he said.
Source: Chronicle
Mines Ministry officials to blame for illegal mining – Charumbira
The National Council of Chiefs President Chief Fortune Charumbira has blamed the chaotic situation in the artisanal mining sector on some officials in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, who corruptly facilitate the haphazard issuance of mining permits to prospectors even in villages.
The President Chief Fortune Charumbira in an interview yesterday on the sidelines of the chiefs’ strategic planning workshop underway in Mutare.
Zimbabwe is battling to bring sanity in the artisanal mining sector, which contributes significantly to gold production every year.
Illegal miners have mushroomed everywhere in search of gold.
The development has not only caused serious land degradation but has also resulted in battles for ownership of gold claims.
“The fight is not between the traditional leaders and the artisanal miners. The fight is between the traditional leaders and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
“These people come with some papers and I have experienced it in the past three weeks in my area where three groups were given rights over the same claim.
“They are coming right into the village and saying we have been given papers here. We are coming with these big tanks which we have imported from China and we want to start mining. How can you start mining in the middle of someone’s kitchen in the village?” said Chief Charumbira.
“They say we have papers from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. We rejected and ordered them out. These people you call illegal miners if you go on the ground you will find that they have documentation from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development,” he said.
Chief Charumbira said it was wrong to brand the artisanal miners’ illegal elements.
“I do not think there is anybody in this country who does mining without some papers that allow them but when they come to communities people label them illegal miners yet it is the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development that is issuing them these papers. I believe there is a bit of corruption at lower levels by these officers when they issue these papers,” said Chief Charumbira.
He, however, noted that some of the artisanal miners were rowdy and disrespectful.
“There is disrespect. Some of them come in our communities and start digging and destroying the nature and order of everything, but what I am saying is that the makorokozas have permission to come into our areas disregarding the interest of the local communities. That is where the war is,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development were fruitless.
Source: Mining Zimbabwe