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Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
AN electrician at Nduba gold mine in Inyathi plunged to his death down a 120 metre deep shaft where his body was trapped for more than 24 hours. Mine rescuers battled overnight to retrieve the body of Dzaoma Shiri, 48, of Zaka in Masvingo, which was trapped underwater on Monday.
It was finally retrieved at about 2:45PM yesterday with his face deformed and the body having suffered multiple fractures.
His colleagues told The Chronicle they last saw Shiri at around 10:45AM on Monday when he went down the shaft to fix a water pump.
The pump, said the miners, was no longer functioning properly as it was now above the water level.
Sources at the mine said the electrician died after a winch cable broke, when he was about 70 metres down the shaft.
They said Shiri went down the well with a workmate, Maxwell Farara.
“They were lowered down the 120 metre deep shaft using a windlass. The steel rope tied to the bucket carrying Dzaoma snapped and he fell, resulting in him being trapped underground,” a colleague said.
Sources at the mine said Farara, who was already underground, saw Shiri’s helmet, a safety shoe and blood stains on the wall of the shaft.
Some workmates suggested that Shiri might have crashed against the concrete lining of the shaft.
A sombre atmosphere engulfed Nduba mine as villagers joined miners in a marathon effort to locate and retrieve the body from the shaft.
The Chronicle witnessed dejected miners, police officers, villagers and relatives who had run out of ideas, milling around the shaft.
They had sent rescuers down the shaft using ropes, ladders and makeshift winches on the previous day, in vain.
Shiri’s workmates were forced to keep an all-night vigil at the shaft despite the chilly weather.
Colleagues said the freak accident that resulted in Shiri’s death came as a shock to many.
“This has been his trade for the time that we have known him.
“He has been fixing water pumps and other electrical faults at the mine.
“We were shocked when news reached us that he had died, at around 11AM yesterday (Monday),” said a close friend who declined to be named.
The mine manager, who was at the scene, declined to comment.
Ward 10 village head, Gilbert Moyo said it was sad that such incidents continue to happen in the area. He challenged mine owners to increase safety measures.
“There have been numerous incidents where people are trapped underground. We’re encouraging local mining companies to increase safety to save lives,” said Moyo.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Siphiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment as she was said to be in a meeting.
Last year, one person died while three others were injured when an underground shaft at Turk Mine near Inyathi collapsed and trapped them.
The deceased miner and three others were transporting ore from a level 14 shaft — approximately 300m deep — when a boulder gave in and crushed him.
Online Reporter