Police Name Seven Miners Killed in Silobela Mine Disaster
Police have released the names of seven artisanal miners who died after being trapped underground in a mining accident at Auriga 47 Mine in Silobela on November 5, 2025.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that the tragedy occurred at the Base Mineral Block in Nzwananzi Village, where the miners were working when the shaft collapsed.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Qhubekani Mahlube (27)
- Osca Bafana (24)
- Albert Nhengure (26)
- Amos Bafana (41)
- Bhiliot Bhepe (40)
All from Nazareth Village, Malisa, Zhombe as well as John Dube (34) of Muganga Village, Malisa, Zhombe, and Mkhululi Moyo (35) of Nzwananzwi Village, Silobela.
ALSO READ: Walter Magaya Leads Prayer Sessions in Prison
Commissioner Nyathi expressed condolences to the bereaved families and urged artisanal miners to prioritise safety as the rainy season begins, warning that flooded shafts and poor mining practices continue to claim lives across the Midlands Province.
“We appeal to miners to exercise extreme caution and avoid entering unsafe shafts, particularly during the rainy season,” Nyathi said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has repeatedly cautioned that illegal and unsafe mining operations remain a major source of fatalities in the province, as desperate fortune seekers continue to risk their lives in search of gold.
