Source: Sanity restored at Kitsiyatota Mine after crackdown – herald
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
Order has finally been restored at Kitsiyatota mining site in Bindura following a Government crackdown that saw mining operations suspended, bringing relief to workers and nearby communities who had endured weeks of chaos and insecurity.
The intervention followed a series of environmental degradation and safety incidents that raised alarm among authorities.
Earlier this month, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) ordered Guilder Treasures — a gold processing plant operating at Botha Mine, popularly known as Kitsiyatota — to cease operations and begin decommissioning its project. The company’s tank manager, Mr Pearson Aron, had been operating the plant without a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate, in violation of Section 97 of the EMA Act.
The facility was using VAT leaching technology across 90 tanks and six boilers, a setup that posed serious environmental and occupational safety risks.
On April 8, the Provincial Engineer — who is also a Mining Inspector empowered under the Mining Regulations — issued a suspension order halting all mining and related activities at Botha Mine (Blocks 1–4), as well as adjoining areas under Freda Rebecca Gold Mine Lease 21, commonly known as Phoenix Prince.
The directive cited grave threats to life, health, and safety as the basis for the shutdown.
The suspension came after escalating violence at the site, including shootings, assaults, and intimidation, which had transformed what was once a productive mining zone into a volatile hotspot.
Illegal miners had overrun the area, undermining formal mining operations and exposing workers to dangerous, unregulated practices, resulting in a complete breakdown of order.
“The operating environment had become unsafe and unacceptable. There was a complete breakdown in safety management systems, coupled with loss of control over access to the site,” reads part of the official suspension notice.
Authorities also flagged widespread non-compliance with occupational health and safety standards.
These included failure to enforce the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), poor supervision, inadequate accident reporting mechanisms, and weak site management. Inspectors reportedly encountered resistance while attempting to carry out their duties, further underscoring the extent of lawlessness at the mine.
Following the suspension, security has since been tightened. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) moved swiftly to clear illegal miners from the area and restore order.
By yesterday morning, mine operators had begun complying with Government directives, including submitting registers of authorised personnel, clearing operational grounds, and restricting site access.
Residents of Kitsiyatota and surrounding communities welcomed the intervention, describing it as long overdue.
“We were living in fear because of the violence. At night, you could hear gunshots.
“This action has brought peace back to our community,” said a resident who requested anonymity.
Operations at the affected mining sites will only resume once stringent conditions are met.
These include restoration of a safe working environment, strict enforcement of safety protocols, proper boundary compliance, and full implementation of occupational health, safety, and sanitation requirements.
The post Sanity restored at Kitsiyatota Mine after crackdown appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.