News / Regional
Kasukuwere shuts down Vumbachikwe mine
14 Mar 2014 at 07:12hrs | Views
VUMBACHIKWE Gold Mine in Gwanda, Matabeleland South, has been ordered to stop operations for refusing to comply with the Environmental Management Ageny (EMA) rules and regulations.
The mining company, which is also resisting selling shares to indigenous Zimbabweans in line with the country's indigenisation laws, owes EMA $55,000 in statutory fees.
The company was served with the order last week giving it a seven-day ultimatum, which ends today, to stop operations.
Officials at the mine were yesterday left with egg on the face after Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa and Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere told them that their attitude was not acceptable.
Mine manager Russell Chettenden told the ministers and EMA officers that government was being unreasonable. He said they had complied with some laws.
"We are not refusing to comply with the EMA laws. We are taking into consideration all the requirements but some of them are unreasonable. I think EMA should be more consultative not punitive when they come here," said Chettenden.
"We believe if we have problems as a mine it should be easy for us to approach EMA for advice."
Kasukuwere dressed down the mine's safety and health environment officer Maulana Phiri and questioned his qualifications for the job after he said EMA was writing exaggerated reports about the mining company.
Phiri said the mine had since appealed against the order.
"EMA officers come here to do their inspections and write exaggerated reports. I think inspectors must be assigned to the mines for a period of one year so that they appreciate how mines operate," he said.
"We know that the environment must be protected for generations to come and we cannot deliberately spoil the environment. We are always attending cyanide spillages."
Kasukuwere interjected: "You must desist from attacking EMA officials and respect the laws of the land. Those days when Vumbachikwe could defy the country's laws and get away with it are over."
He added: "We appreciate that this is a historical mine and we appreciate its challenges but government has a mandate to protect the environment and we will not put people in danger. This mine is killing cattle and affecting water systems and EMA is there to stop that."
Kasukuwere said all companies must heed environmental laws for preservation of the environment was important.
"These are laws of the land that should be adhered to and we do not expect any excuses," he said.
Chidhakwa said operations of mining companies were not only judged by methods of increasing production but also by protecting the interest of communities.
"We want an acceptable attitude. I want to urge Vumbachikwe Mine to ensure that it complies with the laws of this community. I want to defend the company but I want to do that on a solid ground.
"You must comply so that you do not compromise anybody. We are clear about the need to ensure growth of the economy but it is important to balance issues and work well together," said Chidhakwa.
Justifying the order to stop operations at Vumbachikwe, EMA director of environment protection Petronella Shoko said EMA has noted with concern that the mining company had extremely violated environment laws.
"We served Vumbachikwe with an order to close all operations due to a number of reasons. We are concerned about the handling of cyanide, a very toxic chemical at the mine. Cattle have died in this area after drinking water contaminated with cyanide," she said.
"We told them that their crushing area has to be confined to protect the environment and also told them the need to install adequate dust abatement measures but this is outstanding."
She said the mine owed the environmental watchdog $55,000 and had no plan of clearing the debt.
"Last year the authorities here refused to sign our order until we engaged the police. This is undesirable because it affects our relations as well as the community," Shoko said.
Chidhakwa said the government will be checking to see if the mine has complied and also improved infrastructure and road networks in the areas. The ministers also visited How Mine and Blanket Mine.
The mining company, which is also resisting selling shares to indigenous Zimbabweans in line with the country's indigenisation laws, owes EMA $55,000 in statutory fees.
The company was served with the order last week giving it a seven-day ultimatum, which ends today, to stop operations.
Officials at the mine were yesterday left with egg on the face after Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa and Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere told them that their attitude was not acceptable.
Mine manager Russell Chettenden told the ministers and EMA officers that government was being unreasonable. He said they had complied with some laws.
"We are not refusing to comply with the EMA laws. We are taking into consideration all the requirements but some of them are unreasonable. I think EMA should be more consultative not punitive when they come here," said Chettenden.
"We believe if we have problems as a mine it should be easy for us to approach EMA for advice."
Kasukuwere dressed down the mine's safety and health environment officer Maulana Phiri and questioned his qualifications for the job after he said EMA was writing exaggerated reports about the mining company.
Phiri said the mine had since appealed against the order.
"EMA officers come here to do their inspections and write exaggerated reports. I think inspectors must be assigned to the mines for a period of one year so that they appreciate how mines operate," he said.
"We know that the environment must be protected for generations to come and we cannot deliberately spoil the environment. We are always attending cyanide spillages."
Kasukuwere interjected: "You must desist from attacking EMA officials and respect the laws of the land. Those days when Vumbachikwe could defy the country's laws and get away with it are over."
He added: "We appreciate that this is a historical mine and we appreciate its challenges but government has a mandate to protect the environment and we will not put people in danger. This mine is killing cattle and affecting water systems and EMA is there to stop that."
Kasukuwere said all companies must heed environmental laws for preservation of the environment was important.
"These are laws of the land that should be adhered to and we do not expect any excuses," he said.
Chidhakwa said operations of mining companies were not only judged by methods of increasing production but also by protecting the interest of communities.
"We want an acceptable attitude. I want to urge Vumbachikwe Mine to ensure that it complies with the laws of this community. I want to defend the company but I want to do that on a solid ground.
"You must comply so that you do not compromise anybody. We are clear about the need to ensure growth of the economy but it is important to balance issues and work well together," said Chidhakwa.
Justifying the order to stop operations at Vumbachikwe, EMA director of environment protection Petronella Shoko said EMA has noted with concern that the mining company had extremely violated environment laws.
"We served Vumbachikwe with an order to close all operations due to a number of reasons. We are concerned about the handling of cyanide, a very toxic chemical at the mine. Cattle have died in this area after drinking water contaminated with cyanide," she said.
"We told them that their crushing area has to be confined to protect the environment and also told them the need to install adequate dust abatement measures but this is outstanding."
She said the mine owed the environmental watchdog $55,000 and had no plan of clearing the debt.
"Last year the authorities here refused to sign our order until we engaged the police. This is undesirable because it affects our relations as well as the community," Shoko said.
Chidhakwa said the government will be checking to see if the mine has complied and also improved infrastructure and road networks in the areas. The ministers also visited How Mine and Blanket Mine.
Source - chronicle
