Three miners tragically lost their lives on Thursday at Yellowsnake 37 Mine in Kwekwe after a mining shaft accident, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the victims were fatally injured when a safety hook fastening the rope to a cage they were using to exit the shaft broke, leading to the cage falling down the shaft and subsequently overturning. The cage then crushed the three victims.
ZRP Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, stating that the cage crushed the miners as they were going out.
“The victims had entered the mine shaft using a cage. As they were getting out of the shaft, a safety hook that was fastening the rope to the cage broke, resulting in the cage falling. The cage overturned and tragically crushed the victims,” he said.
The victims’ bodies were recovered and taken to Kwekwe General Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Authorities are investigating the accident to determine the cause of the safety hook’s failure, and efforts are being made to reinforce proper safety measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
The mining community in Kwekwe has been left devastated by the accident, which highlights ongoing safety concerns in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. The ZRP has called for enhanced safety precautions in mining operations to prevent further loss of life.
