GWANDA – Duration Gold’s Vumbachikwe Mine has gone to court, seeking to reverse the forced closure by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) over its handling of toxic dumps.
The Gwanda mine was closed two weeks ago for failing to abide by an EMA order to line the waste at its dumps and for failing to settle $55 000 in fines.
EMA also expressed concern about the mine’s handling of cyanide – a very toxic chemical – at the mine. Duration Gold, a Zimbabwe-focused private gold miner and explorer, is owned by Britain-based Clarity Capital and Vumbachikwe is one of the oldest mines in the country, having been in operation since 1904.
The mine was first served with a seven-day ultimatum order to comply, but failed to honour it, leading to the closure.
While Vumbachikwe Mine officials were not immediately available for comment on Tuesday, EMA publicity manager Steady Kangata confirmed the mine had appealed against the closure.
“For now the mine has not opened, but the management has taken the issue to court instead of them rectifying what they had been asked to do,” Kangata said.
He said as far as EMA was concerned, the mine would only re-open after it meets the terms of the order directing the mine to protect the environment.
– The Source
