Nkosana Dlamini
Penhalonga—Troubled gold miner Redwing Mine has dumped mechanised mining operations to join thousands of panners risking lives every day to break the stubborn earth using picks and shovels in search of the precious mineral under controversial businessman Pedzisai ‘Scott’ Sakupwanya’s Better Brands Mining Company.
Once a giant gold mining venture full of promise in terms of transformin lives in the mining community in Penhalonga—some 50kms from Mutare—the Metallon Gold subsidiary fell into a deep financial hole over the years, inviting corporate rescue litigation by disgruntled workers and creditors who were owed millions in unpaid wages and debts.
Corporate rescue, earlier granted by the Mutare High Court, was overturned on appeal at the Supreme Court by the mine owned by United Kingdom-registered King’s Daughter Mining Company Limited.
The ruling did not stop Sakupwanya, a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, from taking over the mine under a dodgy tributary agreement on the promise to use part of the mining proceeds to restore wage payments to over 300 Redwing Mine workers.
The Zanu PF politician and gold dealer hired gold panners to dig holes into the vast slopping landscape on the property in search of gold with some holes running into over a hundred mitres deep.
Better Brands has failed to stick to the arrangement of paying Redwing workers, prompting the mine to adopt the rudimentary forms of mining.
A recent investigation by the media revealed that Better Brands, which controls tracts of the mine land, parcelled out portions for panners to for gold panning, with NGOs saying hundreds have been trapped to death over a period inside the deep holes with no form of compensation for their misfortune.
In a new low for the miner, Redwing workers have taken up gold panning at the behest of their employer to try and raise their wages.
Workers who spoke to a local publication said the unorthodox practice began on 23 May 2023.
“We were left with no choice but to join the panners in digging for gold,” said the worker on condition of anonymity.
“We are very much aware this is a dangerous practice but we have had no choice after going for months with no pay.
“The arrangement reached between Redwing and Better Brands seems not to be paying off so to earn salaries, we negotiated an arrangement to also pan for gold.
“Almost every worker on duty is benefitting except some who are on unpaid leave.”
According to environmental rights NGOs, agreeing to take up the practice is a vow to one’s own death with 100 people reported to have lost their lives inside the holes since 2020 with 26 dying in January this year alone.
At the time of the interview recently, rescue attempts had reportedly being abandoned after two panners had just died inside the holes.
“We are doing it almost the same,” said another mine worker after being asked if the Redwing employees were employing any advanced methods of mining compared to Better Brands.
“We are trying to be as safe as possible by putting safety standards ensuring everyone adheres to standards.
“We always try to remind those working in the pits about safety awareness.”
Redwing Mine is reportedly keen to dump its seemingly unworkable arrangement with Better Brands in place of a more credible partner to resume standardised operations but the investors are said to be hard to come by.
Attempts to secure any partner are also being held back by an ongoing bid to place the mine under corporate rescue by a section of the mine’s restless workforce.
A section of the company workforce led by Peter Zheke, Victor Zivanai and Peter Chirakaraka has since re-opened their bid to seek corporate rescue under Commercial Court Case HC250/2022.
Harare lawyer Farai Kadare, who represented the litigants, confirmed the matter is still pending before Justice James Manzunzu but declined to reveal more details citing his professional obligations.
“The matter is still pending before the courts,” he said.
“I am not in a position to help because the matter is still before a judge and until such time the judge makes a ruling, I cannot divulge anything as this would seem like I am trying to influence court to rule in a certain way.”
Redwing reportedly sells its gold to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe through Fidelity Printers and Refiners.