Panner dies in mine shaft

Prosper Dembedza
A 24-year-old panner from Mt Darwin died on Saturday after the mineshaft he was working in collapsed and buried him underground.
Mashonaland Central provincial assistant police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati confirmed the incident. “We received a report following the death of Phebion Bhobho who died at Manzou Farm in Mazowe after the mineshaft he was in collapsed and buried him. Investigations are in progress to establish what transpired,” he said.

It is alleged that on November 9 at around 5pm Bhobho proceeded to Manzou River in the company of Gabriel Chigwetedza (37) and Sebastian Nyakuvengo (44) to pan for gold.

While at the river it is reported that he went into a shaft and started digging gold ore while Chigwetedza and Nyakuvengo were collecting the ore using buckets.

Police reports indicate that as Bhobho was digging, the shaft collapsed and buried him underground.
It is reported that after noticing that Bhobho had been trapped under the shaft, Chigwetedza and Nyakuvengo shouted for help from other villagers who came and managed to help retrieve Bhobho’s body from the shaft.

A report was made at Mazowe police who attended the scene and took Bhobho’s body to Concession Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Asst Insp Masikati appealed to illegal panners to desist from illegal mining, especially during the rainy season since the soil has became loose and easy to collapse.