Twenty days ago a Mineshaft at Task Mining Syndicate in Chegutu collapsed trapping five miners underground.
Reports at the mine say the miners worked on mine pillars supporting the shaft leading to its collapse. The miners are believed to be still 110 metres beneath the ground and hopes of rescuing the “Task Five” are fading away daily.
The trapped miners are Constantino Dzinoreva (47) based in Chegutu, Charles Mutume (31) Based in Zvimba, Shingai Gwatidzo (20) from Mhondoro and brothers Crynos Nyamukanga (44) and under-aged Munashe Christian (17) from Zvimba.
Platinum mining giant Zimplats reportedly offered to help rescue the trapped five a request reportedly turned down by the mine owners.
A miner who spoke on condition of anonymity said the platinum miner suggested open cast as the best option to rescue the trapped miners. However when Zimplats said it would start working from 110 metres away going towards the collapsed shaft mine owners reportedly turned down the request opting to do it themselves.
A single “shift” of ten men has been working on rescuing the trapped miners.
According to Medical News Today, a typical, well-nourished male weighing 70 kilograms technically has enough calories stored to survive for between 1 and 3 months. However, people who have voluntarily stopped eating to participate in hunger strikes have died after 45–61 days, which suggests that a person would be unlikely to survive for 3 months.