Staff Reporter

Six artisanal miners lost their lives on Thursday afternoon following the collapse of a mine in the Globe and Phoenix area, near Kwekwe’s Central Business District (CBD).

The tragic incident occurred near the well-known Globe and Phoenix Mine area, barely two years after the collapse of a classroom at a school in the same area.

Kwekwe District Civil Protection Unit (CPU) chairperson, Mr. Fortune Mpungu, confirmed the fatalities and announced that all six bodies had been retrieved from the site.

“We received information that a mine had collapsed, and we immediately responded. We mobilized resources, including excavators and other equipment, to dig through the debris and recover the bodies. The CPU remains actively involved on the ground, providing the necessary support,” Mpungu said.

He reassured the public that no other miners were trapped underground, following thorough verification.

“We conducted the necessary assessments and confirmed that only six people were working underground at the time of the incident. We are confident that no other individuals are unaccounted for,” Mpungu added.

He said they have forwarded a report to the national CPU for further action on the matter.

This tragedy adds to growing safety concerns in Kwekwe, where underground tunnels from decades-old mining activities pose a serious threat to residents.

Globe and Phoenix Primary School was recently closed after part of a classroom block collapsed into an abandoned tunnel during lessons, injuring several students.