theUpdate: Trapped illegal miners rescued
Illegal gold miners who were entombed in a shaft at Peace Mine have all been rescued. All are alive.
The miners were underground since Saturday night. The crew was working illegally at Peace mine when the shaft collapsed. Rescue efforts proved successful on Monday night.
The regular pumpimg of oxygen into the shaft by the Rescue team seem to have helped the trapped miners. Authorities confirm the rescue of fourteen miners instead of twelve miners as per community’s assumptions.
In a statement, the Acting Kwekwe CPU Chairperson Mr Clemece Muduma says,
“All the miners, fourteen of them are out and are safe. They are out and some at the hospital for check-ups.”
Mr Muduma further applauds the community and fellow miners for working tirelessly to rescue their colleagues.
“We are so grateful to the miners and the community at large for taking turns to remove the barricade that blocked the passage for the trapped miners to get out. After 22 hours in the ground l, the miners were finally out on Monday at around 8pm”, he said.
Update: Trapped illegal miners rescued
Due to high moisture content in the soil, rubble collapsed into the shaft thereby creating a 20 metre barrier hindering the escape of the miners.
The CPU urges the Ministry of Mines to sort out ownership wrangles at Peace Mine so that work is done peacefully.
Since the passing on of the Chairperson of the Silobela Community Ownership Trust, Mr Arther Nkiwane, which controls operations at the mine miners have been gaining entrance willy nilly embarking on illegal mining operations.
Silobela Member of Parliament, Cde Mthokozisi Manoki-Mpofu says the mine must shut down until ownership issues are resolved. He further warns miners to exercise extra caution during this rainy season.