NATALIE NYATHI
Yesterday, this publication wrote a story on students who were injured after a classroom block collapsed into an artisanal mine shaft that passed through the school.
In yet another accident, two people are reported to have died at Redwing Mine in Penhalonga, Manicalnd when a mine shaft collapsed.
Redwing Mine is where Zanu-PF follower, Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya’s Better Brands has reportedly continued executing secret mining operations.
It has been noted that two more artisanal miners have died before.
It has been established that the mine was closed in January by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) over fatal accidents involving artisanal miners.
Manicaland Police spokesperson Inspector Nobert Muzondo ascertained that two more deaths were reported on Monday.
Muzondo is quoted saying:
“The Police have confirmed the sudden death by trapping in Penhalonga on March 13, 2023, of Hardlife Dzamiti (21) of Chiware village under Chief Nyashanu, Buhera, who entered into a mine shaft 8 meters deep. While inside, a mudslide fell into the mineshaft, trapping him.
“On the same day, Joshua Ncube from Harare died of suffocation. Police said the now-deceased Ncube was in the company of Terrence Magwara in a 13-meter deep mineshaft when he developed some difficulties in breathing and died.”
“Mine deaths occur almost occasionally, the frequency is high because we have illegal miners who are sneaking into disused shafts. As police, it is our call to those who are sneaking into the mineshafts to desist because the soils are loose because of the incessant rains.”
The Director of the Centre for Research and Development James Mupfumi said they were apprehensive about recurrent deaths at Redwing Mine.
“Perpetrators of slave labor in mining pits at Redwing Mine are behind gold smuggling, tax evasion, environmental degradation, and loss of lives in Penhalonga and we are worried”, he said.
Zim GBC News 2023