‘Fatal Truck Accident and Injuries Raise Safety Concerns at Bikita Minerals’ 23 August 2025

A dump truck operator has died and three children were injured in separate incidents at Bikita Minerals within a single week, triggering concerns about worsening safety conditions at Zimbabwe’s largest lithium mining operation. The fatality occurred on Friday when Farai Murimoga Mutsvange was struck by another dump truck as he approached his own vehicle. According to witnesses, thick dust in the area likely obscured visibility, preventing him from seeing the approaching vehicle that killed him instantly.

This tragic event followed a blasting incident just days earlier, on August 15, 2025, at Ledingham Hill. During a spodumene extraction blast, debris reportedly struck three children—relatives of mine workers—causing injuries. In response, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) issued a statement condemning the mine’s safety practices, attributing the incidents to a broader pattern of negligence. “These are not random accidents,” CNRG stated. “They point to a deeper issue of negligence, lack of accountability, and a focus on profit at the expense of human life. Zimbabwe has strong safety laws, but enforcement is clearly lacking.”

CNRG called for an immediate halt to unsafe blasting until robust safety measures are implemented. The organization is also demanding an independent review of the mine’s safety protocols, emergency response, and adherence to labor regulations. These incidents add to a growing list of serious accidents at Bikita Minerals. In 2023, Nelson Musendekwa died after being hit by machinery he was operating. In 2024, employee Ensolomn Chambara lost a leg in another workplace mishap, while fellow worker Alliston Chivasa reportedly lost his wife when the company allegedly refused to provide an ambulance for emergency transport to Harare.