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Court halts Kitsiyatota mining operations
5 hrs ago |
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Mining operations in the conflict-ridden Kitsiyatota area of Bindura have been suspended following a provincial magistrate's order aimed at curbing escalating violence and addressing an ongoing environmental compliance dispute.
The order, issued by Magistrate Maria Msika, followed an ex parte application filed by miner Lee-Roy Kambasha against Navid Incorporated (Private) Limited, Side Electricals (Private) Limited, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Messenger of Court, and the Officer Commanding Zimbabwe Republic Police Bindura.
The court granted an interim interdict halting all mining and related activities at Kitsiyatota and surrounding claims, including Headgear, Morocco, GMB, Gwingwindi, and Phoenix Prince Mine, until EMA clarifies the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate held by Side Electricals.
"The first and second respondents, their agents, contractors, and proxies be and are hereby ordered to forthwith stop all mining-related activities upon service of this order until the Environmental Management Agency has clarified the extent to which the second respondent's Environmental Impact Assessment certificate applies," ruled Magistrate Msika.
The ZRP Bindura District has been directed to enforce the ruling, effectively bringing all operations in the contested mining zone to a halt.
The decision comes amid a series of violent clashes between rival groups allegedly linked to competing mining interests, which have turned Kitsiyatota into a hotspot of conflict.
Court records indicate that in February, Kambasha was injured during a confrontation and suffered a broken arm. Although arrests were made, the suspects were later released on bail pending trial.
Tensions escalated further on March 25 when new groups allegedly connected to Side Electricals clashed with existing miners on site, with reports of property damage including fencing at Freda Rebecca Gold Mine.
At the centre of the dispute is a disagreement over the validity and geographical scope of Side Electricals' EIA certificate, particularly in relation to the contentious Phoenix Prince Mine area, where overlapping claims have fuelled long-standing tensions.
Magistrate Msika noted the urgent need to prioritise safety while EMA resolves the compliance issues, citing the risk posed to workers and surrounding communities.
The ruling follows other recent legal interventions in the region. On Tuesday, the High Court dismissed an urgent application by Side Electricals, trading as Botha Mine, which sought to execute a spoliation order pending appeal in a separate dispute involving Freda Rebecca Gold Mine.
High Court Judge Gibson Mandaza ruled that "execution during appeal is not warranted at this stage," effectively halting enforcement of the order while legal proceedings continue.
The latest court directive places responsibility on EMA to clarify regulatory boundaries, as authorities attempt to restore order in an area increasingly destabilised by mining-related disputes.
The order, issued by Magistrate Maria Msika, followed an ex parte application filed by miner Lee-Roy Kambasha against Navid Incorporated (Private) Limited, Side Electricals (Private) Limited, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Messenger of Court, and the Officer Commanding Zimbabwe Republic Police Bindura.
The court granted an interim interdict halting all mining and related activities at Kitsiyatota and surrounding claims, including Headgear, Morocco, GMB, Gwingwindi, and Phoenix Prince Mine, until EMA clarifies the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate held by Side Electricals.
"The first and second respondents, their agents, contractors, and proxies be and are hereby ordered to forthwith stop all mining-related activities upon service of this order until the Environmental Management Agency has clarified the extent to which the second respondent's Environmental Impact Assessment certificate applies," ruled Magistrate Msika.
The ZRP Bindura District has been directed to enforce the ruling, effectively bringing all operations in the contested mining zone to a halt.
The decision comes amid a series of violent clashes between rival groups allegedly linked to competing mining interests, which have turned Kitsiyatota into a hotspot of conflict.
Court records indicate that in February, Kambasha was injured during a confrontation and suffered a broken arm. Although arrests were made, the suspects were later released on bail pending trial.
Tensions escalated further on March 25 when new groups allegedly connected to Side Electricals clashed with existing miners on site, with reports of property damage including fencing at Freda Rebecca Gold Mine.
At the centre of the dispute is a disagreement over the validity and geographical scope of Side Electricals' EIA certificate, particularly in relation to the contentious Phoenix Prince Mine area, where overlapping claims have fuelled long-standing tensions.
Magistrate Msika noted the urgent need to prioritise safety while EMA resolves the compliance issues, citing the risk posed to workers and surrounding communities.
The ruling follows other recent legal interventions in the region. On Tuesday, the High Court dismissed an urgent application by Side Electricals, trading as Botha Mine, which sought to execute a spoliation order pending appeal in a separate dispute involving Freda Rebecca Gold Mine.
High Court Judge Gibson Mandaza ruled that "execution during appeal is not warranted at this stage," effectively halting enforcement of the order while legal proceedings continue.
The latest court directive places responsibility on EMA to clarify regulatory boundaries, as authorities attempt to restore order in an area increasingly destabilised by mining-related disputes.
Source - The Herald
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