CNRG Demands Suspension of Bikita Minerals Operations Following Two Worker Deaths

Harare, Zimbabwe — The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has urged authorities to halt operations at Bikita Minerals and launch an independent probe into two worker deaths reported at the lithium mining company during the weekend of June 6 and 7, 2026.

The call follows confirmation by Bikita Minerals of the death of 40-year-old dump truck operator Thomas Kaliveni, who was employed by a contractor and died in an incident at a waste dump site. The company also confirmed the death of a security guard employed by an external security firm in a separate incident.

In a statement issued on June 9, CNRG said the fatalities raise serious concerns about workplace safety standards at the mine and warrant immediate intervention by regulatory authorities.

The organisation called for a comprehensive occupational health and safety audit of the company’s operations, particularly within the Quarry and Mining Department, to be conducted by an independent body.

CNRG further proposed the establishment of a multi-agency task force comprising representatives from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to assess compliance with labour and safety regulations.

The watchdog said the families of the deceased should be adequately compensated should investigations determine that lapses in workplace safety contributed to the deaths.

“The reported death of another worker cannot be treated as an ordinary workplace accident,” CNRG said.

“Every workplace fatality is a human tragedy that demands urgent efforts to identify and address the factors that place workers in harm’s way.”

The organisation said Zimbabwe’s ambitions to become a key player in the global lithium market must be matched by a commitment to worker welfare and safe working environments.

“As Zimbabwe positions itself as a strategic player in the global lithium industry, respect for workers’ rights, occupational safety and human dignity must remain non-negotiable,” the statement said.

CNRG argued that the latest incidents form part of a broader pattern of safety concerns at Bikita Minerals since the mine came under the ownership of Chinese mining company Sinomine Resource Group.

According to the organisation, 28-year-old Nelson Musendekwa of Mafuka Village under Chief Marozva was killed on October 23, 2023, when a machine reportedly fell on him while he and several colleagues were loading tantalite into one-tonne bags.

In another incident cited by CNRG, Farai Murimoga Mutsvange, an employee of subcontractor WGB Kinsey and Company, died on August 22, 2025, after being struck by a dump truck while walking towards his vehicle in conditions described as dusty.

The organisation also referenced a 2025 blasting incident at the mine that reportedly left three children seriously injured.

Bikita Minerals has not publicly commented on CNRG’s latest demands for the suspension of operations and an independent safety investigation.