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Andile Tshuma
TWO gold panners were killed after a disused mine shaft collapsed on them following a rock fall at Willowpark Farm in Umzingwane district, Matabeleland South Province.
The deceased were identified as Admire Dube (21) and Edmore Moyo (29) both from Esigodini.
Dube’s body has so far been retrieved while a rescue team was still working to retrieve the body of Moyo.
When our Bulawayo Bureau arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon, rescue efforts were underway to retrieve the body of the second victim from the 13m deep shaft.
The body of the first victim was retrieved on Wednesday.
Villagers and relatives of the deceased had gathered at the area, while the rescue team was busy drilling the shaft.
The director of Youth for Christ Zimbabwe, which owns the farm, Mr Isheunesu Masuka, said for the past five years, illegal mining had been rampant in the area.
“It’s been many years since this problem started, and we have been unable to get rid of illegal miners on our property although we have on numerous cases engaged the police. When we manage to chase away one group, another one comes and our place has since been degraded,” he said.
“It is no longer safe to conduct our activities here as some of the miners are violent, and we are in state of dilemma.”
Another farmer from the area, Mr Daniel Moyo, said he has stayed at his farm since 1981, but started having problems with illegal miners invading the area in 2016.
“I have been here on my land since 1981 and there was peace until after 2010.
Around 2016, it has been a life of cat and mouse between us farmers and the illegal miners and they are wreaking havoc on our land,” he said.
“We are losing livestock such as goats and cattle on a weekly basis and it is so stressful. We have tried to engage law enforcement agents, and some arrests have been made, but the problem persists.”
Mr Edwin Moyo, brother to one of the deceased, said they are left with a burden of taking care of his brother’s wife and two minor children.
“As a family, we are saddened by the death of one of our own. Edmore died young, he was born in 1994 and he is survived by his wife and two children who are still young. Life is tough and the only option we have is to go underground despite the risk,” he said.
Edmore’s sister who only identified herself as MaMoyo, said as a family they are worried about the danger associated with illegal mining activities.
“We are very scared every time they have to go out and mine. It is very hard for us and as mothers and wives as we never know if they will return, but it has become a way of life as there is no other better way,” she said.
Umzingwane district has over the years been plagued by issues of illegal mining with several cases of mine shaft collapses.
The issues of mine worker safety have also been previously brought to the fore as some of the mine accidents have occurred at registered mines.
Matabeleland South deputy provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Thandolwenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident.
“The deceased who has so far been retrieved has been identified as Admire Dube (21) of Mtshede Village New line Esigodini. On 13 June 2023 at around 1PM, he was panning for gold at Willow Farm mine with Edmore Moyo aged 29 years of Esigodini,” he said.
Online Reporter