SHAMVA – The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has dragged New Brixton Mine to the Bindura Magistrates’ Court for allegedly operating without mandatory environmental clearance, as part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal mining in Mashonaland Central.
The mine, represented by manager Jairus Matsika (58), faces charges under Section 97(1)(a)(2) of the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] for conducting gold mining activities without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate.
According to court documents, EMA issued a stop order on March 23, 2024, directing the mine to halt operations until it obtained full compliance. A follow-up inspection on March 28 allegedly found mining activities ongoing, with Matsika present alongside five workers. Machinery, including a compressor and hammer mills, was reportedly running and still hot, suggesting active ore processing.
Matsika was arrested on the spot after failing to produce the required EIA certificate.
“An EIA certificate is not just a legal formality—it assesses potential environmental and social harm before mining begins. Operating without one is both illegal and harmful,” said EMA provincial environmental educationist Maxwell Mupotsa.
He added that the mine cannot now obtain an EIA certificate, as its mining title was forfeited by the Ministry of Mines in 2021.
Separately, a long-running ownership dispute over New Brixton Mine has tilted against Korzim Strategic Minerals (Pvt) Ltd. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development recently dismissed Korzim’s injunction bid to block operations on mining blocks New Brixton 100, 102, and 103.
A previous default judgment granted to Korzim on July 26, 2024 (Case HCH 2530/24) was overturned under Case HCH 3414/24, with the ministry confirming the blocks had been forfeited and no longer legally existed.
“All inspection certificates submitted post-ruling are invalid and were obtained fraudulently,” the Ministry stated in a letter dated April 16, 2024.
However, Korzim’s claim over New Brixton Mine under Registration Number 39189 remains under review.
