MARONDERA- Two men were trapped to death in an abandoned mine shaft in
Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe (UMP) district.
Police in Mashonaland East confirmed that at around 1am on July 25, Desire
Murinda (25) of Chinoburukira Village, Chief Rusambo in Mt Darwin and Munyaradzi
Kanomanja (23) of Nyakusamwa village under Chief Chitsungo in Pfungwe were
trapped in the mine when it carved in.
Reports say the two deceased had teamed up with others to work on Boe Gold
Mining Company which is an abandoned gold mining shaft where they illegally
started panning for gold.
Provincial police spokesperson Inspectyor Simon Chazovachiyi said: “Another gold
panner, Abel Pudza (24) of Chaparapata village under Chief Chitsungo in Pfungwe
went to the shaft where Murinda and Kanomanja were working and heard some
noise from voices asking for help from the mine as they had been trapped inside.
“Pudza informed members of the public who searched for the two men and they
managed to retrieve the bodies but they were already dead. They were positively
identified by Foster Kanomanja. Murinda’s body was also identified by his sister
Betha Rukanda (58).”
The matter was reported to ZRP Mutawatawa who attended the scene and informed
relatives of the deceased.
A post-mortem was waived by Mutawatawa Magistrate Mr Matare and no foul play
was suspected.
Inspector Chazovachiyi discouraged members of the public from practising illegal
mining
He said: “We appeal to members of the public to desist from venturing into illegal
panning especially in abandoned mine shafts. This is because the shafts could either
have been condemned or shut down for security reasons. It is therefore very risky to
work in such environs as people end up losing their lives.”
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