Faint sounds were heard from beneath the rubble for several hours after the collapse, but communication ceased overnight. Local authorities confirmed that at least four miners are unaccounted for and presumed dead. The shaft was about 40 metres deep and had been excavated by a group of illegal miners who dug into an old abandoned tunnel. The ground gave way without warning.
A Recurring Tragedy With No Political Will to Fix It
The tragedy in Zvishavane comes just three weeks after a collapse at a gold mine in Kwekwe killed five illegal miners. In October, six miners died when a shaft flooded at a site in Masvingo. The pattern is consistent: inadequate geological surveys, no ventilation, no roof bolting, and no rescue equipment. Most artisanal miners work without contracts, insurance, or any form of legal protection. They operate on the margins of the law, often paying protection fees to local officials or syndicates tied to the ruling party.
