2 miners buried alive

The tragic incident occurred at Sibayi Mine in the gold rich mining town.
Kudakwashe Chihota (35) and Langton Mashawi (26), both workers at the mine, died after they were buried by debris from the shaft’s walls while Lawrence Dzviti (35) also employed at the mine sustained injuries after being trapped in the shaft.

Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Tinaye Matake yesterday said they were investigating what caused the mine shaft to collapse.
“We are still investigating to find out exactly what caused the collapse of the shaft’s walls resulting in the two miners being buried alive,” he said.
“The bodies of the two deceased miners were taken to Masvingo General Hospital for a post-mortem.”

On the fateful day, Chihota and Mashawi went to work around 10am and got inside a five-metre deep disused mine shaft and started mining.
A few minutes later, Dzviti arrived and joined his fellow workers who were already in the shaft digging for gold.
Before Dzviti had reached the shaft’s basement, the walls began carving in, releasing debris which included rocks that instantly buried Chihota and Mashawi who were

at the bottom of the shaft. Dzviti was trapped by the debris after being buried up to the waist and managed to shout for help.
He was rescued from the shaft by other miners who heard his screams. Chihota and Mashawi’s bodies were retrieved later in the day and taken to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary.