Following dangerous mining practices that have caused in fatalities and significant environmental damage, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) ordered Zanu PF politician Scott Sakupwanya’s Better Brand Mining (BBM) to cease operations at Redwing Mine by January 8, 2023. The EMA has now released a statement outlining its position.
The infamous gold magnate’s money-spinning endeavour was at a loss on how to address the matter after 21 fatalities in 13 months, which prompted the order.
In Penhalonga, the former location of Redwing Mine, Better Brands Mining is mining gold in cooperation with hundreds of small-scale miners who are referred to as sponsors.
The project, a source of livelihoods for a lot of unemployed youths in Manicaland, was flagged as unsafe by NGOs and EMA.
Following the order to cease operations, there were conflicting reports that Better Brands Mining had defied the order and continued with operations.
The incident which left 15 miners trapped for three days following a shaft collapse at Redwing has spotlighted on the activities of Better Brands Mining.
Zimstar News sought comment from EMA spokesperson Amkela Sidange on the status of BBM’s operations at Redwing Mine following the order to cease works.
Sidange said, “The Environmental Protection Order to cease operations was mainly focusing on environmental issues such as rehabilitation of the mined area. The mine was opened after a joint inspection with other arms of government including the mining expert personnel from Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. At the time of the uplifting of the order, there was an improvement in the state of rehabilitation to the satisfaction of the Agency. The Agency then continued monitoring state of rehabilitation at the mine as per its mandate.
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“Kindly note it is not the mandate of EMA to regulate safety standards in mines, please refer questions on the same to Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
“The Agency was saddened by the incident of the 15 miners that were trapped, and grateful that they all came out alive. The Agency would like to encourage project developers to ensure projects are implemented in a manner that protect public safety and environmental integrity.”
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