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Five miners have been trapped at a small-scale mine in Etina, Mashonaland West Province, following the collapse of a mining shaft due to heavy rains. Rescue operations are underway, with excavators already on the ground, but progress has been hindered by the difficult conditions caused by continuous rainfall, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Mashonaland West Province Chairman, Timothy Chizuzu, confirmed the incident and expressed concern over the challenging circumstances.
“The situation is very difficult due to the heavy rains, but efforts are being made to retrieve the miners. We hope to reach them soon,” said Chizuzu.
The mine owner, Sebastian Magodo, explained that the shaft collapsed, causing the tunnel to divide and trapping some miners underground.
“There is no full report yet on what transpired, as we are waiting for rescue operations to be completed. What we know so far is that a shaft used by miners to access the underground subsided because of the rains. Some miners have already managed to come out, but others remain trapped,” said Magodo.
This tragic incident has cast a spotlight on the dangers faced by small-scale miners in Zimbabwe, especially during the rainy season when the ground becomes unstable. The ongoing rescue operation is focused on retrieving the trapped miners as quickly as possible, but the difficult weather conditions have made the process more challenging.
This accident comes just days after a similar tragedy in Kwekwe, where three miners lost their lives at Yellowsnake 37 Mine. The miners were crushed when a safety hook fastening the rope to a cage they were using to exit the shaft broke, causing the cage to fall down the shaft and overturn. The victims were retrieved and taken to Kwekwe General Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
In that incident, ZRP Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed, “The victims had entered the mine shaft using a cage. As they were getting out, a safety hook fastening the rope broke, resulting in the cage falling and overturning, crushing the victims.”
The Kwekwe accident highlights the ongoing safety concerns in Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector, where inadequate safety measures often result in loss of life. Authorities have called for enhanced safety precautions to prevent future tragedies—a call that resonates in the wake of the current Etina Mine incident.
The recent accidents at Etina and Yellowsnake Mines emphasize the urgent need for improved safety protocols in small-scale mining operations across Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has been advocating for stricter safety measures and compliance among artisanal miners, but the sector remains fraught with risks, particularly during the rainy season when tunnel collapses become more frequent.
