Fairness Moyana in Hwange
BLANKET Mine emerged as the overall winner of the 2026 Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe National Mine Rescue Competitions held at Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) last Friday, beating 12 other teams in a contest that tested emergency response skills, technical competence and teamwork.
The competition brought together 13 mine rescue teams representing 11 mining operations, demonstrating the industry’s collective commitment to strengthening emergency preparedness and protecting workers during underground emergencies.
Blanket Mine claimed first place, winning laptops, a shield and gold medals, while Zimplats SMC finished second, receiving iPads and silver medals.
Shamva Resources came third, with General Mutapa Gold Resources and Pan African completing the top five.
The competition was held under the theme, “Kamandama Lives in Our Commitment: Prepared, Equipped and Ready to Save Lives”, reflecting renewed efforts to draw lessons from the 1972 Kamandama Mine Disaster, which claimed 427 lives.
Addressing delegates, Mine Rescue Association of Zimbabwe (MRAZ) president Engineer Shepherd Manamike said the competitions should go beyond demonstrating technical skills and inspire sustained investment in mine rescue preparedness across the industry.
“In a mine emergency, lives depend on decisions made long before the alarm,” he said.
Eng Manamike expressed concern over declining participation by mining companies in rescue competitions despite the expansion of Zimbabwe’s mining sector, warning that this could undermine the availability and coverage of rescue teams during emergencies.
He called on mining companies to establish dedicated mine rescue budgets covering training, equipment servicing, spare parts, transport and other essential supplies.
Eng Manamike also highlighted the transition from BG4 to Pro Air mine rescue sets, saying it required careful procurement planning, equipment-specific training, regular maintenance and the availability of spare parts.
He said MRAZ would seek to improve its training facilities, strengthen leadership and coordination among rescue teams, and encourage more mining companies to participate in mine rescue programmes.
The competitions also recognised outstanding individual performances, with Netsai Chikone of Zimplats receiving the Best Female Individual award.
The Best Male Individual award went to Neo Dennis/Spencer Wakunwarwa, while Zimplats SMC was named Best Captain.
Speaking on behalf of HCCL chief executive officer Mr William Gambiza, the company’s general manager for mining and joint ventures, Engineer Akim Mutiti, said the competition reinforced the need to place workers’ safety at the centre of mining operations.
He said the Kamandama disaster of June 6, 1972, remained one of the darkest chapters in Zimbabwe’s industrial history and underscored the importance of strengthening safety systems and emergency response capabilities.
“We honour the 427 not simply by remembering how they died, but by transforming how we protect those who mine today,” he said.
Mr Gambiza, who was the guest of honour, said mining companies should measure success not only through production volumes and financial performance but also through the health, dignity and safety of their employees.
He urged mining companies to translate lessons from the competitions into stronger emergency response plans, continuous training, modern rescue equipment, realistic simulations and greater cooperation between mines.
“Preparedness must never be an occasional exercise. It must be an institutional culture,” he said.
The competitions brought together mining companies that ordinarily compete in mineral production but share a common responsibility to protect workers during emergencies.
Mr Gambiza challenged the industry to build a safety culture in which production never took precedence over workers’ lives and employees were encouraged to speak up whenever they identified risks.
He said Hwange should increasingly be recognised not only for its mining history but also as a centre of excellence in mine safety and rescue preparedness.
The event, hosted by HCCL, brought together mine managers, rescue teams, judges, trainers, Government officials and other mining industry stakeholders.Ends//…
