Operations at the Redwing Mine have resumed, two months after a cave-in at the gold producer trapped 15 miners in early January.
The reopening comes after authorities ordered a temporary shutdown to investigate safety practices at the mine.
However, concerns linger about whether contractors at the mine have adequately addressed the safety issues that led to the mine collapse accident.
Metallon, a United Kingdom-registered mining firm, owns Redwing.
It is leasing out some of its mining land to Betterbrands, a firm owned by prominent businessman, Scott Sakupwanya.
Betterbrands is not directly involved in mining itself, but contracts individuals who then sponsor artisanal miners to carry out mining activities.
“We have resumed operations after the Ministry (of Mines and Mining Development) gave us the green light,” said an employee with Betterbrands.
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 20km 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.
In 2020, South African geoscience firm RVN Group valued Redwing’s mineral and property assets at US$30 million.
SOURCE : THE HERALD
