The ManicaPost
Tinashe Mlambo
Post Reporter
AN Odzi man was trapped to death in a 20-metre deep mining shaft he was working in early this week.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the tragic incident.
“The victim, Tendai Katuwa (24), of Gai Village was extracting gold from a shaft at Katuwa Mine, owned by Mr John Katuwa when the incident happened. The mineshaft was 20m deep.
“He was in the company of fellow mine employees, Mr Enock Mutsikwi (23) and Mr Tedias Mukanza (29) when they entered the shaft in search of gold ore.
“As they worked, Tendai pushed a rock into place using a mining tool, and suddenly a large rock fell from the shaft roof and landed on him, trapping him beneath it. Mr Mutsikwi and Mr Mukanza tried to rescue him, but he was badly injured. He died on the spot,” he said.
The mine owner made a report at Odzi Police Station, and police attended the scene.
The deceased’s body was conveyed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for a post-mortem.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka urged artisanal miners to be mindful that deep mineshafts can be dangerous, and should consider associated risks before entering unstable shafts.
He said unstable shafts can cause serious injuries or deaths.
