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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
ILLEGAL gold panners (amakorokoza) are reportedly threatening a $26 million investment at Sabi Gold Mine in Zvishavane where they are accused of blasting pillars, which support underground mining operations. With the mine set to resume operations after a local investor, Chandiwana Mining Corporation injected $26 million into the mine to partner Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), Sabi judicial manager Wesley Sibanda bemoaned the existence of illegal gold panners whom he said were even vandalising priceless mine equipment.
Sibanda said the artisanal miners were trespassing into the mine and blasting into the shafts, damaging the pillars and other infrastructure. He called on chiefs and the police to assist curb rampant panning by especially villagers from surrounding areas.
“We’re in the process of working on reopening the mine but we’ve a big problem of illegal gold panners. They’re wreaking havoc. They’re blasting the pillars, which are holding the mine. They use explosives to blow the pillars shaking the whole mine in the process threatening the million dollar investment,” he said.
Sibanda said the mine was undergoing renovations after securing funding from a local investor Chandiwana. He claimed the panners operated at night and were also armed and dangerous. “A local investor has organised its funds from the diaspora and it’s going to avail a maximum of $26,1 million to cover debt and equity,” said Sibanda.
In response, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Fred Moyo said the local leadership should be engaged so that they talk to the youths about the threat posed by illegal mining to the mine. He said considering that an investor had been found, the communities surrounding the mine should be working together.
“We’re now almost close to reopening the mine and the distance we’ve covered is bigger than the distance left to reach our goal. So, let’s work together and desist from panning, which doesn’t benefit the country,” he said. The mine closed down in May 2014 due to shortage of working capital and it was also debt ridden.
With the new investor, the mine will settle its debts that also include workers’ salary arrears dating back to 2014, which have accumulated to over $2,8 million.
The mine owes creditors about $10 million and ZMDC $12 million. Sibanda said in two weeks’ time they would have completed the rehabilitation of the shaft as well as repairing all the equipment required for resuming operations.
He said they were confident that in two months’ time they will be operating at full capacity. Sabi Gold Mine, which is the fourth largest mine in Zvishavane after Mimosa, Shabanie and Murowa Diamonds Mines, used to produce about 50 kilogrammes of gold per year with a total workforce of 420.
Online Reporter