In a tragic development, at least 15 miners are feared dead following a mineshaft collapse at Redwing Mine in Penhalonga, Manicaland province, early this morning.
The mine is owned by Zanu PF Mabvuku-Tafara legislator Pedzisayi Scott Sakupwanya.
Also Read: Scott Sakupwanya holds rituals to appease ghosts at his mine
Centre for Research and Development director James Mupfumi told NewsDay that the accident occurred when the shaft collapsed and trapped some gold miners who were operating underground.
He added that hundreds of residents from Penhalonga have since converged at the site to assist in the rescue operations.
Scott Forced To Close Redwing Mine In 2023
Scott Sakupwanya was forced to suspend mining activities at his Redwing Mine following a series of deaths of workers due to unsafe mining practices by his Better Brands Mining company.
The decision to close the mine came after a directive by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
It was revealed that miners were dying “every week” at the gold-rich facility due to improper practices by Sakupwanya’s company.
Centre for Natural Resources and Governance (CNRG) has always been exposing Better Brands Mining for allegedly defying EMA’s directive to stop operations.
CNRG even went on to petition the line Ministry over the issue. It threatened legal action.
Accordingly, in a letter dated January 20, 2023, Better Brands announced that it would suspend operations at Redwing Mine, temporarily, until matters of increased number of fatalities, environmental degradation and constrained access controls are resolved.
“Better Brands Mining hereby advises its valued stakeholders that all surface mining operations shall be suspended with immediate effect; mainly due to concerns in the increased number of fatalities, environmental degradation and constrained access controls,” read the letter.
“Better Brands Mining shall take this opportunity to restructure and rehabilitate the mining field in preparation for resumption of surface and underground mining operations.
“We shall be advising on progress. Your cooperation to this regard will be greatly appreciated.”
Cleansing Ceremony At Redwing Mine
A cleansing ceremony (bira) was held at Redwing Mine in April last year to stop the deaths at the gold-rich mine.
The company was forced to close its mining operations recently after several deaths were recorded at the mine and resumed operations after being given conditions to comply with to ensure the safety of mine workers.
In light of this, Gogo Emily Chakadza and Gogo Nora Dodzo led the cleansing ceremony under the guidance of their ancestors’ spirits.
“There was a lot of bloodshed because the spirits were angry. Gold is very sacred and it is protected by mermaid spirits. This is why the mine shafts are flooded with water when the spirits are angry. It’s their way of stopping operations at the mine,” said Gogo Chakadza.
“The spirits are also angry because people are conducting bad rituals. We have seen a lot of things here, these rituals taint the land, that’s why people were dying. I am the mouthpiece of the mermaid spirits and I communicate directly with them,” she said.
“I am a dreamer. I dreamt that I was supposed to go to a Mutasa mountain to pour some beer muninga (in a cave)’ on Tete Chisinauta’s body as a way of appeasing the spirits,” said Gogo Chakadza.
“We pleaded with Tete Chisinauta to protect the land and cleanse it as there has been a lot of bloodshed,” said Gogo Chakadza.
“The water spirits that hold the gold also need to be appeased by rice, fish and wine and we communicated with them. We begged them to protect the land and cleanse it of all the mishaps that have been happening.
“I am glad that ever since we did the cleansing ceremony, no death has been reported at the mine, which means the issues that were haunting the mine have been solved,” she said.
One of the miners, Ngoni Machakaire, said he is happy with the cleansing ceremony, adding that it will improve the quality and quantity of gold that will be mined at Redwing.
“When spirits are appeased, they will allow us to mine freely and abundantly. We are going to make so much money and people will not die like before. They have cleansed the land and if the spirits are happy, they will give us more riches,” said Machakaire.
Betterbrands’ Ms Eveline Kujinga said the cleansing ceremony was done at the mine in an effort to stop the fatalities.
“We are resuming mining and as guided by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development as well as the Environmental Management Agency, we only intend to mine in the two blocks at Hope Zaina and Rezende for now.
“We are also resuscitating underground mining and expect that by June 2023, pumps for draining water will be in place,” said Ms Kujinga.
“We are hoping that after this bira, there will be safe mining and no fatalities. We want operations to resume with people protected by the spirits of the land,” said Ms Kujinga.
She added: “Those who led the cleansing ceremony said fatalities at the mine were being caused by the fact that illegal miners are stealing gold ore.”
