Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
TWO artisanal miners died after a seven-metre-deep mine shaft collapsed on them at Best Trade Integrity Mine in Shurugwi in the early hours of Wednesday.
The two men, who were reportedly panning for gold, were trapped underground when the shaft caved in at around 1.30am on 30 September 2026.
In a statement yesterday, Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the deaths of the two miners, identified as Clever Chidumo (30) and Alex Moyo (23), both from Village Madzimamoto under Chief Banga in Shurugwi.
“Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the sudden deaths of two people following the collapse of a mine shaft they were working in at Best Trade Integrity Mine in Shurugwi on 30 September 2026 at about 0130 hours,” said Insp Mahoko.
He said the two artisanal miners were allegedly panning for gold when the shaft collapsed, burying them underground.
“Police were alerted and reacted to the incident. Two dead bodies were retrieved by the Police with the help of the community,” said Insp Mahoko.
The incident adds to concerns over the dangers associated with underground artisanal mining, particularly where shafts collapse and miners become trapped without a safe escape route.
Insp Mahoko urged people involved in underground mining to prioritise safety to prevent further loss of life.
“We call upon members of the public to always consider safety when conducting any form of underground mining,” he said.
