By Staff Reporter
BIKITA— Two workers employed by independent contractors at Bikita Minerals died in separate incidents over the weekend, the lithium mining company has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bikita Minerals said the first incident occurred on June 6 at around 7:45 pm when Thomas Kaliveni (40), a dump truck operator employed by WGB Kinsey and Company, sustained fatal injuries in an accident at the mine’s waste dump site.
He later died from the injuries.
The company said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident are underway.
In a separate incident, a security guard employed by Rebnek Security was found unresponsive while on duty during the early hours of June 7.
According to Bikita Minerals, the employee was discovered by a supervisor conducting routine inspections.
The company said the two incidents were unrelated.
“Bikita Minerals extends its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased,”
Meanwhile, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has called for an independent investigation into the fatalities and raised concerns over occupational health and safety conditions at the mine.
According to CNRG, workers who were on duty at the time of the accident alleged that safety standards at the mine, particularly in the Quarry and Mining Department, had deteriorated.
The organisation said employees cited inadequate visibility markers and concerns over the condition of structures used in haulage operations.
CNRG also noted that this was not the first fatal incident linked to operations at the mine since its acquisition by Chinese-owned Sinomine Resource Group. The organisation said another worker employed by WGB Kinsey and Company was killed in a dump truck accident in August 2025, while a blasting incident the same year left three children seriously injured.
The organisation is calling for the immediate suspension of operations at Bikita Minerals pending an independent investigation, a comprehensive occupational health and safety audit, and the establishment of a task force involving the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Mining is considered one of the most hazardous industries globally, placing a responsibility on operators to maintain strict health and safety standards, CNRG said.
Investigations into both deaths are continuing.
