adminMunyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
THE collapse of mineshafts at Wanderer Mine in Shurugwi was precipitated by earth tremors that the country experienced on December 22 last year, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has said. Midlands provincial mining director Mr Nelson Munyanduri told the Provincial Civil Protection Unit (PCPU) that the ground the artisanal miners were working on was weakened by the earth tremors and later gave in.
Mr Munyanduri said no one was injured or killed as a result of the collapse contrary to earlier media reports that nine people had been trapped underground.
He said there are indications that the ground might continue giving in as more cracks continue to emerge on the surface.
“We are all aware that on December 22 we experienced earth tremors,” said Mr Munyanduri. “The following day, rocks in the mining tunnels at Wanderer started falling from the roof of the shafts.
“On December 24, major cracks emerged on the surface. On Boxing Day the ground gave in. The area that collapsed has a width of about 20 metres and length of about 180 metres.
“Cracks are still visible on the surface and there is a high likelihood that the ground might collapse. We are fortunate that there were no casualties when the ground gave in. No missing persons were reported.”
Mr Munyanduri said there was need to suspend operations at the mining site and evacuate miners to avoid loss of life.
“What we have noticed is that some illegal miners went in when the ground gave in and they are now mining,” he said. “So we want to close the 18 entrances that were left open by the company that was mining there, we want to remove all illegal miners from the site as well.
“We have to secure the areas that caved in. Another measure is to harmonised the mining tributes in the area.”
Online Reporter