“Survivors were neck deep in water for days”
The member of Parliament for Chegutu West Dexter Nduna explains in detail what happened at the Battlefields Mine and updates the current situation of the survivors.
The accident has highlighted the safety issues confronting illegal gold miners, who last year contributed significantly to Zimbabwe’s record 33 tonne bullion output.
Battlefields and surrounding areas are rich in gold deposits and popular with artisanal miners who use picks and shovels and generator-powered water pumps. The makeshift shafts and tunnels can easily collapse in the rainy season when the ground is soft.
The pits are dotted around a clearing some 8 km from the main dirt road. On the edges are shacks made of plastic which serve as accommodation for those digging for gold.
At abandoned mines, the miners, known locally as “Makorokoza” or hustlers, usually sneak in at night and can disappear into shafts and tunnels for more than two days.
Listen to the audio below detailing what really happened
