THE body of a 28-year-old man who disappeared over the weekend has been discovered at the bottom of a mining shaft owned by a senior official at Botha Mine, casting a harsh light on the perilous and unregulated conditions faced by artisanal workers in the area.
Saymore Machipisa was last seen on Sunday after reportedly approaching the Kitsiyatota mining area in search of work. His remains were identified on Wednesday after being recovered from a pit belonging to John Mereki, the Contractors Committee Secretary at Botha Mine, widely known as "Okocha."
Mereki admitted that the body was found at his mine but refered all questions to his manager identified as Nhau.
"Yes, there was a body found but I was not there, so I can not give full details talk to my manager who was on the ground," he said.
Nhau told NewsDay that Machipisa disappeared on Sunday only to be found dead on Wednesday.
Mashonaland Central police inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed that the body was found trapped at Botha Mine.
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"I can confirm that the body of an adult male identified as Saymore Machipisa was found in a mine and transfered to Bindura Hospital where we are waiting for post mortem to determine the cause of the death," he said
The discovery has raised serious questions about safety protocols and accountability at the mine. According to sources familiar with the operation, the body was found in a shaft personally linked to the mine boss.
“They don’t report these deaths. They don’t trace the families. They just carry on,” a shaken insider told this publication. “The shaft is Okocha’s. The death happened on his watch. But there will be no accountability.”
The incident highlights a pattern of lawlessness that workers say is endemic to Botha Mine. Described as operating with virtually no oversight, the mine lacks basic safety measures. Workers report an absence of employment contracts, identification records, name badges, or safety gear. When accidents occur, there are no proper rescue protocols in place.
Sources say that in many cases, when men fall into disused or active shafts, they are left. If a body is recovered, it is often buried in silence without notification of the next of kin. As of Wednesday, Machipisa’s body remained unclaimed at a local mortuary.
“You go down to feed your children. You don’t come up. And nobody comes looking,” the source added. “That is the reality of Botha.”
The death has prompted critics to call for a full investigation into the operations at Botha Mine. The mine, which relies heavily on informal artisanal workers, operates with what insiders describe as brutal exploitation—offering low wages and zero protective equipment in exchange for dangerous labour deep underground.
Ministry of Mines inspector Chishanu refused to comment as he referred the questions to Provincial Mining Director Kashiri whose phone rang unanswered.
In line with standard mining safety regulations, whenever a fatal incident occurs at a mining site, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is expected to immediately halt operations at the affected area. This measure allows for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, ensures compliance with safety protocols, and helps prevent further loss of life.