A DISUSED mine shaft collapsed at Giant Gold Mine in Chegutu yesterday morning, killing one illegal panner and leaving seven others seriously injured, police in Mashonaland West Province have confirmed.

Report by Own Correspondent

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara identified the deceased as Washington Chambwa whose age was not given.

According to police, the eight illegal gold panners were warming themselves around a bonfire when the mine shaft collapsed.

“The eight were sleeping when suddenly the ground on which they were sitting on caved-in. All of them were trapped in the shaft which is about 10 metres deep, resulting in the death of one of them on the spot,” Mabgweazara said, adding the injured were later rescued by fellow panners.

The injured were identified as Takesure Lunga (35), Nkosilathi Gwavira (22), Ernest Banda (35), Admire Danger (32), Vengai Phiri (31), Weddington Mbano (20) and David Chagonda (31).

Keep Reading