Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
THE grim list is out.
Police have released the names of the seven artisanal miners who perished underground after a flooded mine shaft swallowed their hopes and their lives at Auriga 47 Mine in Silobela last week.
The miners, who were prospecting for gold when sudden heavy rains caused the shaft to flood, were trapped on Wednesday. Their bodies were only recovered on Friday, ending days of frantic efforts by fellow miners and community members who fought both water and collapsing earth to pull them out.
“The seven artisanal miners who died are Billion Bhebhe, Oscar Bafana, Amos Bafana, John Dube, Albert Nhengure, Qhubekani Mahlube all from Nazareth Village, Ntobankala area under Chief Malisa in Silobela and Mkhululi Moyo from Nzwananzi Village under Chief Sigodo in Zhombe,” read the police statement.
Government declared a State-assisted funeral for the group. The families received coffins, food for mourners and transport to the burial sites.
“The support came under the guidance of President Mnangagwa who made sure the families were assisted during this difficult time,” said a local official.
Silobela MP Cde Jona Nyevera also stepped in, donating tents and US$1 000 to help the retrieval team that braved water and collapsing rock to recover the bodies. He further gave US$200 to each bereaved family to cushion funeral expenses.
Witnesses say the men had gone down the shaft to check overnight gold deposits when disaster struck. Heavy rains had soaked the mine, turning the tunnels into death traps.
Community leaders said illegal mining will continue to claim lives if miners keep operating in unregulated, unstable shafts.
The funeral wakes are expected to continue throughout the week across Nazareth and Nzwananzi villages, where grief runs deep and the sound of mourning drums echoes late into the night.
Peter Tanyanyiwa