Family of collapsed mine victim speak out

Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Reporter

THE family of one of the two women that died over the weekend in the Nugget mining area of Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province, have dismissed reports that their relative was illegally scavenging for leftover gold deposits but insisted that the women had a long running arrangement with the mine owner to work there.

The deceased women are Nomatter Mlilo and Nomalanga Mabhena while the two that survived the mine collapse incident were identified as Alice and Thandolwenkosi Mlilo, who is a sister to the late Nomatter.

Mlilo will be buried in Matobo District on Wednesday. She is survived by a daughter who is in Grade 5.

Mr Lutha Mlilo, the deceased’s father, said her daughter together with a group of women had been working at the mine for over five years.

“They approached the mine owner over five years ago and asked if they could also try their luck on one side of the mine . It was a good arrangement that worked well for my daughter and her colleagues.

“She was able to make money from the gold that they got at the mine to buy food for the family and support her daughter. The incident was very unfortunate, I’m deeply hurt that she is gone but at the same as a family we don’t blame anyone for what happened,” said Mr Mlilo.

He said the mine owner assisted the family from the time the mine collapsed to making burial arrangements.

“He did not run away or abandon us during our most difficult time when Nomatter passed away and did everything he could to assist us by buying groceries and paying for other expenses to ensure my daughter receives a dignified burial,” he said.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, businessman Mr Brian Samuriwo moved swiftly to assist affected families with funeral arrangements, emotional support, and emergency assistance for injured survivors while also initiating discussions around long-term mining safety interventions for the area.

The businessman is now spearheading efforts to establish structured training programmes for local artisanal miners in partnership with the Junior Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe School of Mines.

The proposed initiative is expected to focus on responsible mining methods, shaft support systems, mine safety, environmental rehabilitation, legal compliance, and formalisation processes for small-scale miners operating in Matobo and surrounding communities.

Speaking during engagements with community representatives, Samuriwo described the tragedy as “a painful wake-up call” for the mining sector.

“No family should lose loved ones in such circumstances. As miners our responsibility now is not only to support the affected families but to ensure locals are empowered through proper training, safety awareness, and responsible mining systems that protect lives and strengthen communities,” he said.

The businessman further indicated that local miners in Matobo and surrounding Nugget mining areas would be prioritised under the proposed community-centred training programmes aimed at improving safety standards and promoting sustainable livelihoods in line with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).

Principal of the Zimbabwe School of Mines, Engineer Edwin Gwaze, welcomed the initiative and said grassroots technical education remains critical in reducing mining accidents across Zimbabwe.

“Formalisation and training are essential in building a safer and more productive artisanal mining sector. The Zimbabwe School of Mines stands ready to work with stakeholders and communities in empowering miners with technical knowledge, environmental awareness, and responsible mining skills.”

Secretary General of the Junior Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe, Mr Dosman Mangisi, also commended the Nugget mining community for taking practical steps towards empowering local miners through structured safety and technical programmes.

“What is encouraging about this initiative is that it focuses on long-term sustainability, professionalism, and community empowerment. Efforts by the Nugget mining community and its leadership to prioritise training, safety, and formalisation are critical in transforming artisanal mining into a more organised and productive sector that contributes meaningfully to national development,” said Mangisi.