A miner dies weekly from Mine accidents in Zimbabwe
Mine accidents in Zimbabwe have been on the rise with the country recording 125 accidents and 139 fatalities during the first 3 quarters of 2022, a government official has said.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the National Mine Rescue competition at Jena Mine in Silobela last Friday, Deputy Chief Government Mining Engineer Mr Tapererwa Paswavaviri said the Mine Rescue Association should up its sleeves to help the Artisanal and Small scale miners who have contributed to the majority of the fatalities.
He also said that the office of the Chief Government Engineer was also taking the initiative of reaching zero harm and would work closely with the Mine Rescue Association.
In 2019 Zimbabwe recorded a total of 116 accidents with these resulting in 182 fatalities. In 2021, the country recorded a decrease in both accidents and fatalities as compared to the previous year with 121 accidents and 139 fatalities. As at 30 September 2022, the country had recorded 125 accidents and 139 fatalities.
“I note with great concern that the years 2019 to date, witnessed some serious increase in mine accidents and fatalities.
“These figures are unacceptable with an expectation of a vision of establishing a zero accident potential for all mines of Zimbabwe. Mine safety must be treated as a top priority by the entire workforce.
“In Zimbabwe, nearly one miner dies every week on an average over the last five years with 139 killed over the last nine months of 2022 indicating a disturbing trend,” Paswavaviri said.
The Deputy Chief Government Mining Engineer said the government was working to establish very deterrent penalties on mines that do not uphold safety and health standards.
“I understand your association has noted the adverse impacts of these losses whilst you will be taking the responsibility squarely on your shoulders, the Chief Government Mining Engineer is in the process of putting in place deterrent penalties to make compliance a better option.
“We must not allow situations of this nature where occurrences of mine accidents take one life and causes loss of millions of dollars.
“My office has been running around the country to do awareness campaigns with small-scale miners and believe the message has sunk in the small-scale mining sector. They have since taken it upon themselves to try and copy you the big brother with the assistance of the Zimbabwe School of Mines,” he said.
Zimbabwe has been plagued with mine disasters over the last few months, often resulting in the death of scores of miners. Most of the mine accidents have occurred at illegally run disused mines, with a few happening at legally-run small scale mines.
The competition saw the How Mine Rescue team as the overall winner, winning the best Proto team followed by the Mimosa Mine rescue team which scooped the second position while the SMC Zimplats rescue team was crowned third.
Meanwhile award-winning small-scale safety organisation ZIMSHEQ will be joining the event from the zonal competitions in 2023.