adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
A SWIMMING expedition ended in tragedy for two Silobela brothers in Ward 27 after they drowned in a six-metre deep disused mine.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) manager for Midlands province, Benson Basera, confirmed the deaths.
Basera said Thokozani, 8, and his elder brother Mthokozisi Dlodlo, 13, who were doing Grade 3 and 7 respectively at Kanda Primary School in Silobela met their fate on January 31 around 4PM while they were herding cattle.
“The brothers decided to swim in a disused pit which had been abandoned and had not been rehabilitated,” he said.
Basera said after the boys failed to return home from herding cattle, their relatives raised the alarm leading to the discovery of their bodies in the disused pit.
“The two bodies were recovered at the shallow end of the pit and were partly submerged in mud,” he said.
Basera blamed the untimely death of the brothers on the councillor in the area, Nevison Dube, who stands accused of digging the pits using earthmoving equipment during his gold mining activities and leaving without rehabilitating them.
He said the environmental watchdog officers were on the ground investigating the matter.
Basera said they were going to fine Clr Dube if EMA proves that he was indeed responsible for not securing the pits.
“Initial investigations show that Clr Dube is the one who dug the pits using heavy machinery during his mining activities. This, he did illegally since he did not have environmental assessment plans,” he said.
“Our officers are investigating the issue and soon he will be issued with tickets for illegal mining if it is proven that he is the one responsible.”
Midlands police spokesperson, Joel Goko said he was not aware of the incident.
Online Reporter