FIVE Zimbabwean gold mines have had to halt operations owing to flooding amidst safety fears for workers at a time when the country's gold mining sector has already registered a significant decline in output. The gold mines that have ceased operations are Metallon's Redwing gold mine in ManicalandProvince, Gwanda and Vumbatshingwe Gold Mines in MatebelelandSouthProvince, Shangani Mine in Matabeleland North and another Mine on the Great Dyke region. "Given the situation on the ground, flooding has become a general phenomenon and given the shortages of spare parts to do the pumping and power cuts, it has caused these mines to shut down," said Mathias Martins, a Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines official. He said the mines were also battling to replace and retain skilled personnel who "can re-design and tunnel the mines' drainage systems" as most of these and other expert mine employees have left the country for greener pastures elsewhere in the region. The situation has also been worsened by the incessant power cuts and outages which have also reduced production time at the few mines that are still operational. Zimbabwe's gold miners are battling for survival and some, according to informed sources in the sector have sent signals to government that their mines need immediate capital injections if they are to remain viable. A further drop in gold output could further compound the country's woes as it already faces the possibility of losing exclusive rights to sell bullion to international markets. The local market remains unattractive despite a hike last month of the gold support price to $100 million per gramme.
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