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Whinsley Masara
A 24-YEAR-OLD miner from Kezi in Matabeleland South died after eight explosives detonated while he was down a shaft.
Lifalenkosi Dube of Mahetshe Village, under Chief Fuyana allegedly went into the mine shaft with 20 explosives and the sound of eight of them detonating was heard before the recovery of his body remains.
The incident occurred at around 4 pm on Friday and pieces of his body remains were retrieved by his two cousins on the following day.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm the sudden death of a 24-year-old man who died in a mine shaft when some explosives detonated while he was underground.
“He was in the company of his two cousins when the mishap occurred.
“He went inside the shaft leaving his cousins outside. While inside, the two cousins heard the sound of explosives detonating.
They reported the matter to the police on the following day and before police arrived at the scene, the two men had managed to retrieve some of the now deceased’s body parts,” he said.
Remains of his body were gathered and taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital for post mortem.
Chief Insp Ndebele urged people to avoid the use of explosives when not experienced on how to use them.
He also warned members of the public to desist from mining in unsecured shafts as that exposes them to danger.
derick.khumalo