adminFreedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
The Midlands Provincial Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has been dispatched to start investigations into the collapse of Wonderer Mine in Shurugwi.
At least nine artisanal miners are feared dead after a mine shaft collapsed last Saturday.
Over 300 artisanal miners were reportedly working underground when some of the mine’s shafts gave in.
Wonderer Mine is one of the oldest mines in Shurugwi.
By yesterday, no rescue mission had begun at the mine after Ministry of Mines and Mining Development officials last week ruled out any possibilities of saving lives after the collapse.
Acting police spokesperson for the Midlands Province, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed that various departments that form the provincial Civil Protection Unit had begun investigations into the incident.
She, however, referred other questions to the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima.
“Various departments have started investigations into the matter so you can get hold of the (Midlands Provincial) Minister for a comment,” she said.
Minister Mavima’s mobile phone was not reachable.
Ministry of Mine and Mining Development officials refused to comment on the matter insisting that they were not allowed to speak to the media.
Some artisanal miners interviewed when the incident occurred said some of their colleagues were still missing.
“There were over 300 of us working underground in groups of seven or six. In my group we were seven, but there are only five of us, two are still missing we don’t know what happened to them, but they must have been trapped,” said Mr Simon Ngazi one of the artisanal miners.
Mr Ngazi said they were working under a tunnel nicknamed “Wafa Wafa” when the shaft started collapsing.
“It was so bad, some were falling and collapsing due to stampede and panic. Some were hit by boulders and I want to believe there are many people who are still trapped underground,” he said.
Another artisanal miner, Mr Fanuel Ndlovu who sustained head injuries as they stampeded out of the mine said they were missing one of his group members.
“We were taking turns to blast so one of our colleagues who were blasting at the time of collapse are still missing,” he said.
Online Reporter