ZAPU tackles Roodeport Mine Disaster head on

The Zimbabwe African People's Union led by Dr Dumiso Dabengwa in South Africa has reacted actively to the Roodeport Mine Disaster where scores of Zimbabweans are trapped thousands of meters underground in a disused gold mine and all feared dead.

Hundreds of Zimbabwean, Lesotho and Mozambiquean illegal gold miners are known to be dangerously and illegally so digging for gold in the disused mines located around Johannesburg. In the last few weeks three incidents of mines collapsing or gas explosions occurring in the mines have been reported and all of the claiming scores of lives of the immigrants from the region.

In this latest disaster, people expected to be numbering around 300 most of them of Zimbabwean and Lesotho origin are feared to be either dead or trapped in the Roodeport Mine following a gas explosion underground which may have occurred at the weekend. Five bodies of dead miners were found at the opening of the shaft on Monday morning believed to have been brought to the surface by fellow illegal miners who have been carrying out the risky rescue operation of their colleagues secretly behind the South African authorities in fear of arrest.

The discovery of the bodies prompted for an immediate call for a rescue operation. Alerts amongst Zimbabweans were immediately called up when it was discovered that all of the five bodies discovered on Monday were Zimbabweans. On getting to the site survivors in and around the mine pointed to the direction that at least about 200 more people predominantly Zimbabweans could still be underground either dead or alive.

The ZAPU, South Africa executive have since Monday been at the mine around the clock helping with the mobilisation of rescue personnel, identification of the deceased as the bodies slowly come out of the mine and also comforting and assisting families who believe that their loved ones are amongst those still trapped underground.

Speaking in an interview from the scene the ZAPU Jourbert Park Branch Secretary for Mobilisation Mr Raymond Mdlongwa, says they have been on site since Monday helping in the very difficult and risky rescue operation.

"We have been with the families since Monday morning, donated money for battery torches, dust masks and food for the informal rescue team who are retrieving bodies from underground," he said.

Mdlongwa was quick to castigate the Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa for not heeding to a call for assistance as it was evident that most of the people trapped underground are Zimbabwean nationals.

"I personally have been phoning the (Zimbabwean) Embassy on a daily basis in order to get them to act and been told that they don't have a vehicle to transport them to the scene." The Zimbabwean consulate however only managed to send a low profile delegation on Wednesday who were on the site briefly before leaving.

"They came yesterday briefly around 5 PM and promised to help but didn't specify what kind of help, they seemed to have no clue or whatsoever what they should do as an embassy. Today they never arrived nor called as promised," said Mdlongwa. Besides the "let down" by the embassy, ZAPU members led by Mdlongwa and the Johannesburg district chairman Patrick Matsinhanise and Jerico Ncube a member of the Jorburg District Executive Committee have remained on site coordinating the rescue operations on behalf of the shaken Zimbabwean families on site and back home.

"We are still on site coordinating the proceedings and liaising with local media. Our Welfare departments are collecting donations in cash or kind that will be handed over to the relevant or responsible personnel for the transportation of the deceased back home."

According to reports from the ZAPU guys on site, a further 11 bodies all expected to be Zimbabweans have been brought to the surface by the not so formal rescue team as the South African government rescue team is reluctant to proceed with the rescue operation expressing the high risk involved.

"Watching bereaved families waiting for their dead siblings was so moving. What really broke my heart was to see youth of about 18 to 25 going underground without protective clothing, bringing bodies to the surface. I came to realise that Zimbabwe has incapacitated leadership,"

According to reports on the ground, the South African governments is threatening to close off the mine today an issue which the ZAPU executive have committed to try plead with the authorities to defer just in case there could still be some people still alive in the deep shafts.

In closing of Mdlongwa pleaded with Zimbabweans from all over the world to come together and rise above party and all other differences and donate towards the cause.

"The response from the public has so far not been so encouraging, I think that it has to do with fear emanating from police brutality and lack of media coverage, the informal miners didn't appreciate the presence of the cameras and journalist. ZAPU Johannesburg has donated a considerable amount of money and have pledged to donate more as the welfare department immediately started organising funds from different Provinces namely UK, USA, Canada and RSA. They are currently consolidating all their pledges and will announce in due course how much has been collected to be handed over to the families. It is well known that ZAPU is funded by contributions from members and indeed we are expecting our members to as usual come forward and help in this cause," concluded Mdlongwa.

Our news crew is in continuous contact with the people on site and will in the course of the day continue to flight pictures and updates of events in the mine as they unfold particularly with the South African authorities threatening to seal off the mine today.