adminRichard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
A 42 –year- old Gwanda gold panner was crushed to death after a boulder fell on him while he was drilling in a mineshaft at Bina Mine.
Matabeleland South Police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele yesterday identified the dead miner as Mandlenkosi Ncube.
“Yes I can confirm the death of Mandlenkosi Ncube on the 8th of December at TKS Development Mine at Bina Mine. He was together with Nkosi Gumbo of Spitzkop North when he was crushed to death,” said inspector Ndebele.
He said the pair was working undergound at night when the boulder fell crushing Ncube to death.
Inspector Ndebele said fellow panners retrieved Ncube’s body after battling for hours to remove it from underneath the boulder.
He said Ncube’s body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital for post mortem while Gumbo who sustained bruises, was referred to the same health institution for treatment. “He is out of danger although he was complaining of back pains,” said Insp Ndebele.
Mine accidents which claim lives are prevalent in Gwanda.
Recently a worker at Vumbachikwe gold mine, Mugovewashe Kwashira (27), died after plunging for about 160 metres down a shaft. The incident occurred as workers were reporting for duty.
Last year an employee at Jessie Mine on the outskirts of Gwanda was also crushed to death after a boulder weighing more than a tonne fell on him while he was underground.
In 2014, another Vumbachikwe Mine worker was crushed to death when a boulder weighing more than one tonne fell on him.
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