Redwing mine reopens after fatal cave-in, but safety concerns remain

Operations at the Redwing Mine have resumed, just two months after a cave-in trapped 15 miners in early January.

The reopening comes after authorities ordered a temporary shutdown to investigate safety practices at the gold mine.

However, concerns linger about whether contractors at the mine have adequately addressed the safety issues that led to the accident.

Metallon, a UK registered mining firm, owns Redwing.

It is leasing out some of its mining land to Betterbrands, a firm owned by prominent gold dealer, Scott Sakupwanya.

Betterbrands is not directly involved in mining itself, but contracts individuals who then sponsor artisanal miners to carry out mining activities.

The similar arrangement is also used by Metallon.

“We have resumed operations after the Ministry (of Mines and Mining Development) gave us the greenlight,” said an employee with Betterbrands.

The human rights organization has accused the government of turning a blind eye to ongoing safety violations at Redwing.

“The restart of Redwing Mine is a slap in the face to the memory of those who lost their lives there,” said a representative from a human rights organisation, who wished to remain anonymous. ”

“The Government needs to stop turning a blind eye to these ongoing safety violations and hold contractors accountable. Only then can we ensure that such accidents never happen again.”

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has not yet responded to these allegations.

Redwing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Metallon, a private company that owns a vast portfolio of mineral assets in Zimbabwe consisting of four mining properties.

In October 2002, Metallon acquired a portfolio of mineral assets from a holding subsidiary of Lonmin plc, also known as Independence Mining. Redwing is located in Penhalonga, some 20 km north-northeast of Mutare, Manicaland Province.

According to a Competent Persons’ Report prepared in April 2020 by Golder Associates based in Australia, the mineral resource contains approximately 2,63 million ounces.