BULAWAYO – Two artisanal miners died on Tuesday following a mine shaft collapse at Master Cecil Mine in Umguza district, Matabeleland North.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednigo Ncube confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Thompson Sibanda and Colleen Manyathela, both from Nkayi.
Ncube said the two met their fate when they had gone down the mine shaft which is almost 20 metres deep at around 10AM to check the water level so they could decide if they could continue working or not.
The two however failed to come out as late as 1PM, prompting their co-worker to raise alarm on a possible accident involving the now deceased.
He then mobilised a rescue team to go underground.
They managed to retrieve Sibanda at around 11PM whilst Manyathela was retrieved on the following day.
Police believe that the two may have disturbed the pillars which supported the shaft causing it to collapse.
Their bodies were heavily bruised all over.
This incident comes days after 15 miners escaped death by a whisker at Redwing Gold Mine owned by Zanu PF legislator Scott Sakupwanya after a shaft collapsed and trapped them for three days.
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