The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani News Editor
MINING companies in Manicaland have heeded President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s clarion call to keep the country’s economic wheels turning by scaling up operations during the lockdown period.
Some of the companies are taking advantage of uninterrupted power supplies to meet or surpass their production targets.
For most of the companies, from the diamond mining fields of Chiadzwa to Buhera’s Dorowa phosphate mine, key technical staff are working eight-hour shifts.
Only Metallon Gold’s Redwing Mine has little activity as the mine is under care and maintenance.
According to officials, the lockdown has seen the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) and Dorowa phosphate mines enjoying uninterrupted power supplies.
After recording a production slump from 2018’s 2,8 million carats to last year’s 1,6 million carats, ZCDC is now well on course to meet its projected target of 3,2 million carats this year.
Dorowa Minerals is also expecting to meet or surpass their monthly production target of 5 000 tonnes.
ZCDC chief executive officer, Mr Roberto De Pretto, said they only stopped production for a week and used the period to maintain and service their equipment.
“Our production is going on smoothly. Normal operations resumed after a week into the lockdown as we were deemed an essential service provider. We have decongested our operations, while key sectors like security are operating at full capacity.
“We hope that we will be retaining more staff next week, depending on the President’s announcement on whether to extend the lockdown or not.
“All returning staffers will undergo the mandatory testing and screening to ensure that we do not have any Covid-19 cases reported at the mine. We are also not allowing any visitors to the mine and we are religiously adhering to Covid-19 safety measures and procedures,” said Mr De Pretto.
He said ZCDC, through the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines, had contributed US$100 000 towards the national Covid-19 fight. The company has also been supporting the provincial Covid-19 response teams as well as the Marange community with personal protective equipment and fuel for their awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas.
“While the Covid-19 pandemic will have a toll on the national economy, we are geared to play our part in achieving the $12 billion industry by 2023. The diamond sector is expected to contribute $1 billion towards the target and we are already on track to meet the 3 million carats production target.
“We will continue to annually review our production targets. Together with players like Murowa Diamonds and Anjin who came on board in January, we will make it,” said Mr De Pretto.
The country’s sole phosphate mine, Dorowa Mine’s general manager, Mr Charles Mangadze said their operations were not affected by the lockdown as they had already put in place safety measures.
“Our operations are part of the fertiliser manufacturing chain. What we produce is sent to our sister company, Zimphos, and then to Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company for the production of fertiliser. We have to produce fertiliser, especially for the coming winter wheat season.
“We have retained the essential technical staff, while most of the administration and other supporting staff are at home.
“We are not allowing visitors to our mining areas and villages. Our equipment is regularly fumigated, while sanitisers have been placed on strategic points, where workers can easily access them. We have infrared thermometers to check temperatures at all points of entry at the mine.
“We have never had an incident where we had to isolate an employee on suspicion of Covid-19. We are closely monitoring all the employees according to the laid down procedures,” Mr Mangadze said.
He revealed that they are producing an average of 5 000 tonnes of phosphate per month, and an average of 1 500 tonnes of magnetite.
“We are in the process of recapitalising our phosphate mine due to the growing demand and our quest to contribute towards the attainment of the $12 billion industry by 2023.
“For phosphate, we want to increase our output to 10 000 tonnes per month, while the production for magnetite should be increased to 6 000 tonnes per month. This project is expected to be complete by 2021. There is huge demand for magnetite at Hwange and Bikita mines, while we have secured export markets. The mineral is used in coal mining.
“Ninety-five percent of the magnetite we mine here is exported, while we are also targeting the phosphate export market. At full throttle, the mine employs 300 people and 70 to 80 percent of the labour force are locals,” said Mr Mangadze.
Shawa Mine, which is located in Buhera and specialises in vermiculite extraction, is also operating in accordance with Covid-19 safety guidelines.
Vermiculite is a multi-purpose mineral used in agricultural constructions. It is a group of minerals that are able to expand into long, worm-like strands when exposed to heat.
In its expanded form, vermiculite has a very low density and thermal conductivity, which makes it attractive for use as a soil amendment, lightweight construction aggregate, water purification, sewage treatment and thermal insulation filler.
Shawa Mine manager, Mr Alfred Zezekwa, said they are prioritising their employees’ health.
“Production is going on well at the mine and we are strictly observing Covid-19 safety measures. We are geared towards contributing to the attainment of the $12 billion mining industry by 2023.
This year, our projections are an average of 35 000 tonnes of vermiculite every month, which we will increase to 40 000 tonnes next year, until we reach our monthly target of 50 000 tonnes.
“Our major constraint has been power challenges over the past two years, but of late the situation has greatly improved,” he said.
Mr Zezekwa highlighted the need to process export documents more quickly.
“Our products are mainly for the export market. The red tape in processing the export documents affects our operations,” he said.
When fully functional, Shawa Mini employs about 100 employees. However, at the moment only 20 employees are reporting for duty.
Shawa Mine has also been assisting the Buhera District Covid-19 co-ordination team with vehicles and fuel for their awareness campaigns.
