Asset stripping, looting of machinery and mining equipment is taking place at Kamativi tin mine in Matabeleland North province, a development that Mines deputy minister Gift Chimanikire has described as “shocking”.
About five trucks are descending on Kamativi tin mine at night every week to take mining equipment and machinery, NewsDay established.
Chimanikire told NewsDay last Thursday that there should not be any movement of equipment before a new investor comes in to resuscitate the mine that closed 18 years ago, rendering close to 1 000 workers jobless.
Kamativi, which opened in 1934, is owned by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), a state owned firm that operates mining companies on behalf of the government.
Chimanikire in July revealed that an unidentified South African investor would be taking over the mine in October.
Investigations by NewsDay showed that trucks with no company logos have been descending on Kamativi since the second week of July to load machinery and equipment which is then sent to the capital, Harare.
It could not be established where in Harare the equipment and machinery was being taken.
Sources said villagers and ex-workers inquiring about the removal of machinery and equipment are told that “this is scrap metal which should be taken away and dumped”, but Chimanikire said there should not be such movement even “if it’s scrap metal”.
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“It’s surprising and shocking.
“The scavenging of scrap metals or machinery at any site, closed or operating mine should not be taking place. It’s an issue of concern.
“It should not be the case,” Chimanikire said.
“There should not be any movement of any scrap metal before an investor moves in.
“What should happen is that the investor buys and takes over everything that is there.
“In any case, the removal, scavenging and transportation of any scrap metals is monitored through our metallurgical department.
“It is the one that approves and in this instance I would like to think there is no authorisation because I am not aware of it.”
Chimanikire said the Kamativi area had an estimated resource of 2, 5 million tonnes of tin, tantaline, lithium and magnesium, which would require substantial amounts of investment if it is to be fully exploited.
ZMDC chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa on Thursday professed ignorance about the transportation of equipment from Kamativi.
“This (transportation) can be due to operational issues which I am not aware of,” Masimirembwa said.
“Why are you not asking when Kamativi mine is re-opening instead of focusing on the less important things like the transportation of equipment?”
Masimirembwa who later referred NewsDay to Jerry Ndlovu, the ZMDC general manager, said the corporation was yet to finalise any agreement with an investor to take over mining operations at the mine.
Ndlovu on Thursday said: “I am driving. Phone me on Friday morning.” On Friday, he was not answering his mobile phone.
The mine closed in June 1994 after international tin prices fell to levels that rendered operations unviable. Between $35 million and $50 million is required to resuscitate operations at Kamativi.
A tonne of tin currently fetches between $17 000 and $22 000 on the international market.
