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Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
ARTISANAL and small-scale miners have been urged to stop mining activities during the rainy season to avoid possible mine collapses because of the wet ground.
The rainy season is usually associated with an increase in fatalities within the mining sector with some mines collapsing due to lack of proper supporting structures.
Last Sunday two illegal gold miners at Interfah Mine also known as Success Mine in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province died when they were trapped underground when a shaft in which they were illegally mining gold collapsed and buried them.
Last Sunday two illegal gold miners at Interfah Mine also known as Success Mine in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province died when they were trapped underground when a shaft in which they were illegally mining gold collapsed and buried them.
“The rainy season has been associated with mine accidents due to flooding, drowning or ground fall due to instability caused heavy rains. As a Ministry this year we carried out a good number of safety and environment awareness campaigns in all provinces and dangers of mining during the rainy season was one of the major issues discussed.
“We urge miners to avoid working in loose ground such as dumps or old backfilled mines and also mining in low lying areas and waterways to avoid flooding and drowning. We are also urging that for their safety they should close down some of the operations in areas considered dangerous and resume after the rainy season as no amount of gold is worth a human life,” said Eng Munodawafa.
He said they were planning to continue with the awareness campaigns into the new year as the initiative was giving them positive results.
Young Miners Foundation (YMF) chief executive officer (CEO) Mr Payne Kupfuwa who is also a miner in Zvishavane said this was one of the most dangerous seasons for artisanal and small-scale miners as a number of lives have been lost before during this season.
“As miners we should preserve life and maintain a safety culture this rainy season. Safety is first before we look at the returns, hence let us practice responsible mining.”
He said most artisanal and small-scale miners have not adequately put resources in developing their mines, therefore requiring them to be the ones that try by all means to adhere to the rainy season safety measures.
Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mineral Workers Union (ZIDAMWU) is also on record calling upon the extractive industry players particularly in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector to adequately prepare as part of efforts to eliminate fatal accidents.
The union said miners should first assess hazard areas around the shaft or in a mine before taking mitigation measures and as part of maintaining a safety culture they should always wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) all the time as well as keeping equipment and machinery in recommended safe places.
Miners are being encouraged to ensure they practice safe mining and adhere to the relevant mining Laws and Regulations.
Information from the Climate Centre indicates that the rainy season in Zimbabwe falls in the austral summer, and generally lasts from November to March.
Previous rainy seasons have seen the country witnessing a series of fatal accidents that have occurred mainly at gold mines around the country.
In September 2020, five artisanal miners were trapped underground when a shaft collapsed at Task Gold Mine in Chegutu, Mashonaland West Province. Two bodies of the five miners were only retrieved, 51 days after the tragedy.
On 10 November, 2021, six illegal miners, including four from one family, were trapped underground when a mine collapsed in Matshetshe, Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province.
Online Reporter