Vumbachikwe Mine reopens

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VUMBACHIKWE Gold Mine in Gwanda has resumed operations after it was temporarily shut down last month following failure to adhere to an order from EMA

VUMBACHIKWE Gold Mine in Gwanda has resumed operations after it was temporarily shut down last month following failure to adhere to an order from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to protect the environment, Southern Eye Business established yesterday.

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The Gwanda mine went to court seeking to reverse the forced closure by EMA over its handling of toxic dumps and reportedly won the case on Friday last week.

An official at the mine who refused to be identified, said they resumed operations on Saturday after they were granted an order by the court to reopen while they sorted out EMA demands to protect the environment.

“We resumed operations on Saturday after the court had granted us permission to operate,” the company official, speaking strictly in confidentiality, said.

Other sources at the mine said Vumbachikwe was sternly warned to adhere to an EMA order, failure of which would lead to prosecution.

“The court sternly advised the management to abide by EMA order without fail. They were told to line the carry-in dumps that they were currently using as well as the handling of cyanide at the mine,” the source said.

“They were also told that their crushing area has to be confined to protect the environment and they should install adequate dust abatement measures which EMA ordered them to do.”

Contacted for comment, EMA director of environmental services, Aaron Chigona, confirmed the mine had resumed operations, adding that the environment agency had sent inspectors to assess the situation and compile a report.

Chigona said if the report showed that the mine was failing to comply with the EMA order they would close them down again.

“They reopened according to the law. It is provided in the law that if you have been given an order to cease operations and that order expires after three weeks then you are free to resume operations. However, this doesn’t mean that you are not supposed to comply with an order,” Chigona said.

“We sent our inspectors yesterday (Tuesday) to go and assess the situation. If their report says they are failing to comply with our order we will close them again.”

The Gwanda mine was closed last month for failing to abide by an EMA order to line the waste at the 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, owns the mine which in turn is owned by Britain-based Clarity Capital.

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 to comply, but failed to honour it, leading to the closure.