Zimbabwe Government bungled condolences to Roodepoort mine deaths

After exactly six days since events at the Roodeport mine disaster started unfolding the Zimbabwean government has finally issued a statement which by any standards is extremely disappointing if the way the national broadcaster the ZBC has projected it is anything to go by.

A report flighted on ZBC news on radio and TV and also on their website under the title, SA mine disaster: Government speaks , the report shows a very sad picture of lack of information either on government or ZBC's part about the disaster

The report keeps referring to the disaster in Roodepoort West of Johannesburg as having occurred in Benoni in the East rand a completely opposite direction an easy 150kms apart. Indeed, there was a similar disaster more than two weeks ago in Benoni in which two Zimbabweans died when an illegally dug mine collapsed.

The disaster in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refers to where at least 20 miners have been retrieved dead and scores more could still be underground occurred on Monday this week and in Roodepoort in the Westrand not Benoni in the Eastrand as confusedly reported by the ZBC and/or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has conveyed condolences to the families of Zimbabwean illegal gold miners who perished in the Benoni mine disaster in South Africa and has applauded efforts by various stakeholders in rescuing those trapped underground. Over 20 illegal gold miners most of whom are Zimbabweans have died after being trapped in an abandoned mine shaft in Benoni, on the East Rand," reads the statement apparently shy to mention the Zimbabwean stakeholders who were involved in the rescue operations, who happen to be ZAPU activists based in Johannesburg .

In another shocker the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Christopher Mutsvangwa only states that the Zimbabwean government will continue to work closely with South African authorities to ensure that those still trapped are rescued besides a known fact that there are no chances of any survivors still underground. Contrary to popular expectations that government was going to declare the incident a national disaster and immediately help with the repatriation of the bodies for burial in Zimbabwe, the Ministry opted to remain quiet to that effect.

"As government, we are disturbed by the news coming from South Africa. It is a disaster and we are together with the families of those trapped and we will work closely with the South African government to ensure that those still trapped are brought to the surface," said Cde Mutsvangwa.

Since Monday when the incident was reported Zimbabweans on site had been calling for assistance from the Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa to no avail. The embassy is reported to have only sent a low profile delegation to the site for a few minutes before departing without seeking for more information nor asking what assistance was needed. A lot was expected from the embassy as it is presumed to be the eye and ear of government in foreign lands, with the information availed to the Ministry and National Broadcaster it is evident the embassy did not do their work thoroughly.

The way the report mixes up the Eastrand disaster with the Westrand one and apparent lack of information of what transpired at the mine leaves a lot to be desired with some sectors quickly pointing to lack of commitment from government on the issue.

An activist on the ground who declined to be named did not mince his words in telling the government to shut up if they are not keen in helping the deceased.

"This is a very weak statement from government and it clearly shows that just like the embassy they don't care, they must just shut up if they don't want to help the deceased or bereaved families. Is it because its people from Matabeleland?" "The illegal gold miners are understood to have been trapped in the mine outside Benoni in an industrial area known as East Rand and were discovered after emergency services staff heard screaming sounds while conducting a routine drill in the area," said the statement.

One needs to teach the people at the Zimbabwean embassy to feed the most accurate and correct information to government back home to avoid embarrassing the nation. Simple things like telling government there is an industrial area in South Africa known as East Rand and mining activity taking place there is all but embarrassing the country.