HARARE: 21 January 2025
The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) is outraged by the tragic and preventable death of Taurai Dozva (39), who was killed in a horrific accident at the Sino Africa Huijin Holdings Gold Mine on January 10, 2025. Our hearts go out to Taurai’s wife, Modester Samunda, and his three young children – a daughter who is in Form 1, another in ECD and the youngest just 9 months old. This family has been left devastated and without their primary breadwinner.
According to the details we have received, Dozva was performing his duties as a spotter, responsible for directing and guiding the movement of heavy mining vehicles. On the night of the accident, the late was tragically struck and killed by a fully loaded 40-ton tipper truck. The driver’s account of the incident is difficult to verify, as Dozva was the only other witness. However, we know that the deceased was crushed from his abdomen up to his head, with his body completely mangled by the weight of the truck.
The negligence and callous disregard displayed by the Chinese mine owners is utterly unacceptable. After initially providing a meagre US$3,500 to cover burial expenses, they then offered a mere US$2,000 as compensation to his grieving family – a sum that is entirely inadequate given that late Dozva was the sole provider for his wife Modester Samunda and three children. Furthermore, the mine owners forced the bereaved wife and family representatives to sign a document acknowledging the US$2,000 as sufficient compensation, despite their clear disagreement. This coercive action demonstrates a complete disregard for the welfare of Dozva’s dependents.
CNRG calls on the Sino Africa Huijin Holdings Gold Mine to immediately provide fair and just compensation to the Dozva family. Based on precedents in the mining sector, we believe the appropriate compensation should be no less than US$20,000 to support Dozva’s wife and the three orphaned children. The mine must also ensure that all necessary paperwork, including Dozva’s NSSA details and payslips, are provided to the family. This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for stronger regulations and enforcement to protect the rights of workers in Zimbabwe’s mining industry. CNRG will continue to advocate for improved safety standards, fair labor practices, and accountability measures to prevent such devastating losses in the future.
In November 2023 CNRG petitioned government to “exercise its oversight role, as enunciated in Section 119 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and hold the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development; Ministry of Environment Tourism and Hospitality; and the Environmental Management Agency accountable and ensure the unsafe and environmentally destructive mining practices at Premier Estate are stopped.” Had the government acted on the petition, Taurai Dozva would not have died such a cruel death.
We stand in solidarity with Taurai Dozva’s family and call on the public, civil society, and relevant authorities to join us in demanding justice and proper compensation.
Centre for Natural Resource Governance is a leading research and advocacy organization championing climate justice and wildlife conservation, land rights, human rights, environmental integrity and anti-corruption in the natural resources sector.
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