BY NHAU MANGIRAZI
A WORKER at a Chinese-owned gold mine, Dee Troop, in Chikuti, Mashonaland West province, died at the weekend after he was trapped in a collapsed mineshaft.
The deceased has been identified as Herman Musona (29).
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Magret Chitove confirmed the incident.
‘‘We are investigating a sudden death incident that occurred at Dee-Troop in Chikuti, Makonde district where the deceased Herman Musona was trapped on August 28 2021,” Chitove said.
“As he tried to come out of the underground mining shaft where he was trapped, the deceased was knocked off by a large stone boulder that fell on him. Other mine workers tried to rescue him without success as he passed on in the shaft mine.”
She added that a report was made at ZRP Murereka Police Post in Lions Dens.
‘‘As police, we are deeply concerned with the high prevalence of deaths in the mining sector. We are urging all those in the mining industry to carry out regular inspections and check on mine safety before workers go underground. This will help to avoid loss of life.’’
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Zimbabwe Diamonds and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Justice Chinhema said mine workers face a lot of challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘‘The mine workers also face poor working conditions, poor remuneration and general poor welfare in our mines. Mine workers face threats of a new coloniser in the form of Chinese miners in the name of investors,’’ Chinhema said.
He called on strict measures by mining inspectors.
‘‘A lot needs to be done to safeguard mine workers,’’ said Chinhema.
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