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Tragedy struck again in Mazowe District as two men lost their lives following a devastating explosion at Kwayedza Investments Mine on Thursday, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the victims were sitting by a fire, seeking warmth during the cold winter night, when an unexpected explosion ripped through the vicinity.
One of the victims reportedly died on the spot from the blast, while the other succumbed to injuries after being rushed to Concession Hospital. The police confirmed that investigations into the cause of the explosion are ongoing. Although initial details remain sketchy, law enforcement authorities have committed to releasing more information as it becomes available.
The horrific incident has thrown the mining community into mourning and raised renewed concerns over safety compliance at small-scale and artisanal mining operations in the country.
The explosion adds to a growing list of mining-related tragedies in the area. Just days earlier, another fatal incident occurred at Jumbo Mine, located in the same Mazowe District. In that case, three miners died after a vertical shaft collapse trapped and crushed them underground. The men were working underground when they fell to their deaths due to the sudden failure of shaft infrastructure.
The victims of the Jumbo Mine shaft collapse were retrieved by fellow miners and police hours later, but were pronounced dead upon retrieval. Their names were not immediately released to the public, but the community has already begun informal tributes to honour the deceased. The recurring nature of such accidents has sparked outrage among residents and labour activists, who argue that mining companies, particularly in the small-scale sector, are not doing enough to guarantee worker safety.
The dual tragedies at Kwayedza and Jumbo Mines have brought the Mazowe mining region under renewed scrutiny. Advocates are now calling for urgent safety audits, better enforcement of mine standards, and more rigorous monitoring of explosives management in the wake of these fatal incidents.
Some miners described working conditions in Mazowe as “a ticking time bomb,” citing poor ventilation, outdated machinery, unregulated use of explosives, and minimal oversight from responsible authorities. “We are dying trying to survive,” said one miner who asked not to be named. “These are not just accidents. They are avoidable deaths.”
Local civil society organisations and trade unions have echoed these sentiments, demanding that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development immediately suspend operations at any site found to be in violation of the country’s mining safety protocols. They argue that without tangible reforms and investment in mine safety, Zimbabwe risks turning its mineral wealth into a national curse.
As families grieve and rescue workers reflect on yet another grim chapter in Mazowe’s mining history, the call for accountability has never been louder. Whether these tragedies will prompt meaningful change or fade into another footnote in the country’s long list of mining fatalities remains to be seen.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged the public to report any suspicious activities around mining sites and to exercise extreme caution, particularly when near active or abandoned mine shafts. Meanwhile, funerals for the deceased men from both Kwayedza and Jumbo Mines are being planned, with family members and communities now preparing to bury their loved ones amid unanswered questions and lingering sorrow.
