Two killed in shaft collapse

TWO illegal gold miners were buried alive after a mineshaft they were working on to extract the precious yellow mineral collapsed while they were beneath it.

Police spokesman Inspector TavhiringwaKakohwa confirmed the incident which happened at Mushambi Plot in Odzi.

Insp Kakohwa identified the deceased as Tichaona Nhapata (34), of Village R, Chukundu, under Chief Marange, Odzi and the other victim was only cited as Farai.

The incident occurred on July 25, 2018, around 9am.

“The two were illegally panning gold at Mushambi Plot when the mine tunnel which was six metres deep and seven metres long, suddenly collapsed and trapped Nhapata and Farai to death.

“Francis Mutomba (33), heard the noise of the shaft collapse and rushed to the nearby village to summon for help to retrieve the pair, but by the time the rescue mission was completed, the two had already died,” said Insp Kakohwa.

Nhapata’s body was buried last Friday at Chikundu village.

Insp Kakohwa urged artisanal miners to desist from illegal activities, especially along the river banksciting fatal consequences.

Reports abound that hordes of illegal gold panners have invaded Odzi in search of gold deposits.

The discovery of rich ore deposits in Odzi has brought relief to the poor local community where most of the people are unemployed and rely on farming. However, environmental catastrophe is in the offing as the banks of Odzi River have been besieged by the illegal panners who are leaving behind a trail of destruction that includes devastated fields and forests, mud-choked and mercury-tainted water along the river.

Children have even traded their books for a pick and shovel in the hope of finding a golden ticket to lift them out of poverty.

Illegal panning has had some tragic consequencessince the ground is shaky and collapse easily.

Some of the illegal miners lack panning experience and easily fall for anything.

In recent years several illegal gold panners have died after being trapped in the shafts in the belt stretching from Penhalonga to Odzi.

Six of them were trapped after a mine tunnel they were working in collapsed and buried them alive in the Saungweme Mountain area.