When mines act as magnet for criminals

Dar es Salaam:Speaking during the Great Rift Valley Mining Summit held
in Dar es Salaam Thursday 18th April 2013, Warrior Security Ltd, CEO
Major Tony Sugden declared the need for mines to have proper security
systems with credible, capable staff who can protect not only mines
but also the personnel working on site.

“Mines and their subcontractors are often the only truly meaningful
commercial entity in their areas of operation,” said Maj. Sugden.
“This makes them stand out like shining beacons, with people good and
bad attracted by a mine, often with tragic consequences.”

Asset theft and illegal mining continue to threaten security personnel
and employees at mines causing financial losses and posing a
significant threat to the health and safety of employees, according to
reports by the South Africa Chamber of Mines.

“Mines pay well, but there still seems to be plenty who are not
motivated by the wage alone, but by what else they can get on the
side; they become the internal threat competing with the external
element determined to get in and take what they can,” said Maj.
Sugden.

Aside from instilling integrity as part of company culture, Warrior
Security Ltd management team keep their eye on the basics such as
employing and training suitable security personnel, then adding the
technology to support this human element. By combining the two
elements, more success is achieved in eliminating employee and
criminal collusion.

“By creating integrity within our communities we are effectively
displacing the threat away from the mine,” said Maj Sugden.

Warrior Security Ltd. provides integrated risk solutions tailored to
suit clients’ risk profiles and budget. It is currently the largest
security company in oil rich South Sudan, with over 1000 guards in 12
areas, And specializes in post conflict areas as well as the oil and
mineral rich regions of South Sudan, Congo, Zambia, Tanzania having
protected UN organisations, embassies, NGOs, corporate businesses and
individuals.

The Great Rift Valley Mining Summit was held at Kunduchi Beach Hotel,
Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The two-day event hosted over 30 mining
companies from across Africa, as well as the Tanzania Minerals Audit
Agency CEO, Paul Masanja, Uganda Investment Authority Executive
Director Frank Sebbowa, and representatives from Ministries of Mines
from Kenya, Ethiopia, Congo, Malawi and Mozambique.