Online Reporter
Mutare Bureau
POLICE have confirmed the death of three artisanal miners after a 24-metre-deep shaft collapsed at Premier Central in Mutare on Monday afternoon, trapping them underground.
The accident occurred at around 4.30pm at Plot 55, Premier Central, while the miners were carrying out gold mining activities.
Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the tragedy and said the three men died after the shaft gave in while they were working underground.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a fatal mining accident which occurred on 24 August 2026 at around 1630 hours at Plot 55, Premier Central, Mutare. Three artisanal miners were killed when a mining shaft, approximately 24 metres deep, collapsed while they were working inside it,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
The deceased were identified as Alfred Chimwazha (36) of Matiza Village under Chief Mutasa, Joseph Saungweme of Maonde Village and Peter Tafadzwa Mandiopera.
According to Comm Nyathi, the three were part of a group of artisanal miners conducting gold panning activities at the site before entering the deep shaft.
Disaster struck when the shaft suddenly collapsed, trapping the three miners underground beneath the debris.
Other artisanal miners who were at the scene immediately launched efforts to rescue their trapped colleagues. The rescue operation, however, was complicated by the depth of the shaft and the dangers posed by the collapsed ground.
Mandiopera was eventually retrieved from the shaft and rushed to Old Mutare Mission Hospital for emergency medical attention.
However, he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The bodies of Chimwazha and Saungweme were later retrieved from the collapsed shaft, but the two men had already died by the time rescuers reached them.
