daniel chigunwe
Oliver Kazunga
CALEDONIA Mining Corporation has reported a fatal accident in which an employee was hit by a falling rock last Saturday while drilling in a development area at the Gwanda-based gold operation, Blanket Mine.
The mining firm that jointly owns Blanket Mine with Zimbabwean shareholders that include the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust (GCSOT), said an enquiry into the accident is in progress.
“It is with regret that Caledonia reports that an accident took place on September 21, 2024 at the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe, where an employee was hit by a fall of rock while drilling in a development area and as a result has sadly died.
“Management at Blanket Mine are assisting the relevant authorities in their enquiry into this accident,” it said.
In August last year, an employee died in a mine mishap related to the maintenance of trackless equipment at Blanket.
Meanwhile, gold output at Blanket jumped 20 percent in the second quarter of this year to 20 773 ounces compared to the same period last year.
Caledonia is on record saying it remains on track to achieve this year’s production guidance at Blanket Mine of between 74 000 ounces and 78 000oz.
This is on the back of significant mineral resources and reserves estimates and an extension of the mine’s life based on reserves, judging from the strength of the ore bodies at the gold operation.
Bongani Ndlovu