CHEGUTU – THE Government sent representatives to Chegutu for a send-off of one
of the miners, Godfrey Baro, who died in the Bayhorse Mine disaster last week.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo, and
various Government officials visited Chegutu Hospital Mortuary on Monday and later
to lead a church service to comfort the Baro family.
Bayhorse Mine collapsed on Friday last week around 11 am while nearly 40 artisanal
miners were underground.
The miners take two-hour shifts underground in search of gold.
Ten miners were confirmed dead, four were hospitalised. An estimated 40 miners
were reportedly underground when the mine collapsed.
Minister Chombo expressed her heartfelt condolences towards the Baro family. She
urged miners to be cautious so as not to risk Iosing their lives. The Government
provided burial arrangements as well as covering the costs of those who were
hospitalised.
Tendai Baro, sister to the deceased thanked the Government. "Ndaisaziva kuti
ndichatangira papi kuviga hanzvadzi yangu.Ndinotenda zvikuru Hurumende
nerutsigiro rwayatipa semhuri," she said.
Chief Ngezi said that he and his team will visit the site of the tragic accident for
traditional cleansing ceremony in accordance with Shona culture.
"Tinofanira kuenda kunochenura nzvimbo," he said.
Misheck Best, one of the survivors, observed: "Handioni vamwe vachibuda
varivapenyu, nekuti pavakasarira pakadzika."
A Provincial Civil Protection Committee is at the mine to continue with the rescue
operations.