3 illegal miners trapped in shaft

Three illegal miners were reportedly trapped in a shaft at Masasa Mountain in Mazowe while panning for gold, according to the Zimbabwe Republic Police on Wednesday.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed that artisanal miners were trapped and two died on the spot while one survived.

"I can confirm that three illegal miners were trapped in Mazowe on Wednesday and two died on the spot, after the shaft collapsed" said Inspector Mundembe.

He urged illegal miners to desist from illegal mining and acquire proper mining documents from the government.
Mundembe also gave a strong warning to illegal miners to stop mining this rain season as the soil is loose and can easily trap them thereby losing life.

"As police we are calling on illegal miners to acquire mining licenses from the government, we are also giving a strong warning to them to stop their illegal mining especially this rain season the soil is very loose we end up losing unnecessary life after the collapse of the shafts."

Meanwhile, cases of miners being trapped in Masasa are on the increase after eight miners were confirmed dead in the same area in May last year.