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Herald Reporter
Three Kadoma gold panners died last week after the mineshaft they were working in collapsed and buried them underground.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the incident and said investigations into the matter were in progress.
The deceased have been identified as Thulalani Ndebele (37), Kudakwashe Sonati (32) and Thabani Mpofu (age not given) all of Pix Farm.
Inspector Mabgweazara said when the mineshaft collapsed, there were four men inside and one managed to escape unhurt, leaving the three trapped under the shaft.
He said that on December 16 at around 5pm, the four proceeded to Makarichi Mine where they entered a mineshaft to pan for gold.
As they were busy panning, the mineshaft collapsed and buried Ndebele, Mpofu and Sonati.
Insp Mabgweazara said the man who escaped informed a fellow villager identified as Robert Ndiripo before disappearing.
Ndiripo reported the matter to the police at Battlefields who attended the scene and took the three dead bodies to Kadoma Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Insp Mabgweazara appealed to illegal panners to desist from mining, especially during the rainy season since the soil has became loose and easy to collapse.
Last month, a 24-year-old panner from Mt Darwin died after the mineshaft he was working in collapsed and buried him.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter