The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
TWO illegal gold panners were trapped to death after shafts they were mining in collapsed in two separate incidents that happened recently in Penhalonga.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luxson Chananda confirmed both incidents.
In the first incident, Takudzwa Mafa (27) was trapped in a disused mine at Mukada Farm in Old Mutare after they had gone to pan gold with Ishmael Mutongera (24). The two were retrieving gold ore in sacks when the shaft collapsed on him, killing him instantly.
In another incident, Jackson Pininga (28) was found dead after he fell in a 60-metre deep shaft. Efforts by his friend and fellow illegal gold panner Tendai Chiyai to rescue him proved fruitless.
Pininga, who resided in Chikanga, was illegally panning gold at Chapauta makeshift mine in Redwing Mine with Chiyai when the incident happened around 8pm. He died after being trapped in the shaft which was 60 metres deep.
The two were using a rope to get inside the shaft. The mine collapsed and he was trapped inside. Shinyai tried to rescue the deceased to no avail.
No foul play is suspected in both incidents.
