4 artisanal miners die in mine collapse

Four artisanal miners died last Thursday after a disused shaft collapsed at Chengxi Gold Mine in Shurugwi, police confirmed on Wednesday.

"The ZRP confirms a mine accident which occurred at Chengxi Gold Mine, Shurugwi, on 04/09/25 where four artisanal miners died," police said in a statement. "The victims, who were prospecting for gold in a disused mineshaft, got trapped after the mineshaft collapsed. The bodies of the victims were retrieved and taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital for a post-mortem."

Chengxi Gold Mine, partly owned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's son Collins in partnership with Chinese investors, is among the biggest operations in the district. While the mine says it adheres to safety standards, officials admit they face constant invasions by artisanal miners who sneak into abandoned shafts to conduct unregulated and dangerous prospecting.

Mine collapses involving artisanal miners are common in Zimbabwe, where poverty and unemployment continue to drive thousands into unstable, poorly ventilated tunnels. Dozens are killed annually in such accidents, with experts warning that the risks will persist unless formalisation and safety measures for small-scale miners are urgently implemented.