Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
Botha Gold Mine is facing intense scrutiny after shifting responsibility to “unauthorised access” following the death of a 26-year-old artisanal miner inside a prohibited shaft, despite multiple Government orders halting operations over life-threatening risks.
In a statement issued shortly after the discovery, Botha said the deceased was found in a “non-operational” section of the mine that “may have been accessed without authorisation,” framing the tragedy within the broader dangers of “unregulated or unauthorised mining environments.”
But that position is now colliding with a documented timeline of three separate prohibition orders, including a safety suspension issued on April 8, 2026, warning of “immediate and unacceptable risks to life” and explicitly barring any resumption of mining without written clearance.
Tinashe Chauke (26), died on April 23, 2026, inside a shaft at Phoenix Prince Mine, located within Mining Lease 21, which the Government has affirmed is held by Freda Rebecca Gold Mine.
Authorities had not authorised any resumption of operations in the area at the time of his death.
Two days after the initial suspension, Botha stated on April 10 asserting it “continues to operate within the framework of the law” based on court orders granting possession, yet made no reference to obtaining the mandatory written safety clearance required under mining regulations.
The same statement confirmed the mine runs a “formalised artisanal mining framework” involving hundreds of contractors and thousands of livelihoods.
This raises a central question: how did miners access and allegedly continue working in a banned shaft nearly two weeks after a total shutdown order?
The case may hinge on whether there was a breach of a clear legal duty created by the Government’s stop order.
“The instruction was unambiguous, no operations without written authorisation,” said a Harare-based criminal lawyer.
“If mining activity continued in any form and a death occurs, investigators will look at who allowed that environment to exist.”
Under Zimbabwean law, company officials including directors and senior officerscan be held liable if an offence occurs with their knowledge or consent.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has opened an investigation into the incident amid growing calls from the Bindura community for accountability at both operational and corporate levels.
Residents are demanding that authorities determine:
- Whether mining activities continued after the 8 April suspension
- Who controlled access to the shaft where Chauke died
3.And whether safety directives were ignored
They have also called on Botha to publicly produce any written authorisation permitting operations during the period in question.
In its latest statement, Botha said it would not comment further while investigations are underway, but emphasised its “commitment to safety, compliance and the wellbeing of all stakeholders.”
The company also expressed condolences to Chauke’s family.
However, by attributing the death to possible “unauthorised access,” the company has drawn criticism for what some see as an attempt to distance itself from responsibility in a mine it acknowledges hosting structured artisanal activity.
The full circumstances surrounding Chauke’s death remain under investigation, with post-mortem results still pending.
Police are expected to determine whether the fatal incident was the result of illegal mining activity or a failure to enforce a legally binding shutdown in a high-risk environment already flagged by authorities.
