The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
VUMBACHIKWE Gold Mine in Gwanda, which has been at the centre of an ongoing dispute with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), faces closure yet again despite having recently won a court order allowing it to resume operations, Sunday News can reveal.
The mine had to resort to the courts after EMA forced its closure for failing to meet certain environmental obligations, including the manner it handled its toxic dumps.
The mine subsequently resumed operations a couple of weeks ago after winning the order against the agency.
However, in an interview with Sunday News, EMA spokesperson Mr Steady Kangata revealed that while it was unfortunate that the mine had to resort to the courts on environmental issues, the agency was likely to issue another order instructing the mine to cease operations until it adhered to set environmental parameters.
“The mine was initially closed under Section 37 of the Environment Management Act that basically gives conditions of what the proponent is supposed to undertake for the protection of the environment and the communities around.
“As you might be aware, Vumbachikwe had so many spates of illegal spillages and at one point we had a number of livestock dying.
“As EMA, we simply told them to stop and ensure that their crushing area has dust suppression measures that are put in place. At the moment, it is just an open crushing area which is not good for the workers, environment or the communities around,” said Mr Kangata.
He said a dam at the mine was also posing a serious environmental threat, especially to underground water. The handling of cyanide and other toxic chemicals, he said, also exposed the community to extreme danger.
“Their dam is not lined and this causes the problem of leachate which therefore affects the underground water, and naturally the water around where people have to derive a livelihood,” he said.
Mr Kangata said regardless of the order, the mine was still bound by the environmental laws of the nation, this meaning they had to adhere to strict parameters because the operations of the mine affected the lives of the surrounding communities.
“It becomes unfortunate then that Vumbachikwe decided to go the way of taking the issue to the High Court instead of addressing such clear matters on the ground which have a short and long term effect on the surrounding communities.
“What I should point out is that the High Court judgment for them to reopen coincided with our 21-day ultimatum we had given them to address the problems but honestly
“I can tell you that they are still far off. Therefore, if we feel that the conditions they are operating in today are still the same and don’t abide by our set standards, we will be left with no option but to give them another order for them to cease operations regardless of their court order,” he said.
He, however, emphasised that their aim was not to just shut down operations and frustrate business but to ensure that while people made their profits they also protected the environment.
“Our aim is not just to close ventures because we also appreciate that they also want to make a livelihood but we are simply saying that they should also consider the environment for the benefit of future generations.
“We urge everyone who is operating a business which has an impact on the environment to ensure that the three pillars of sustainable development are considered that is the economic pillar, social pillar and environment pillar,” said Mr Kangata.
Recently when Sunday News visited the mine, workers were going about their business as usual with management claiming they had been instructed not to talk to the media.
“Yes we have started operations after the High Court granted us the order.
“We are also working on adhering to some of EMA’s provisions but I really cannot say much to you because I risk losing my job,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
