Suspend Operations or Count the Dead: Police Issue Stark Warning to Miners
With heavy rains pounding Zimbabwe, mine shafts are turning into graves and authorities are pleading with miners to stay out of underground pits before more lives are lost.
As the rainy season intensifies, Zimbabwe is witnessing a surge in fatal mining accidents.
Artisanal miners, often working in disused or poorly maintained shafts, face growing risks as underground pits flood and collapse under pressure.
Authorities have issued urgent warnings, calling for a nationwide suspension of underground operations until conditions improve.
The latest tragedy occurred on November 5, 2025, in Silobela, Midlands Province.
Seven miners drowned after a shaft at Auriga 47 Mine flooded during a heavy downpour.
Their bodies were recovered two days later in a joint operation involving the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, and local mine operators.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying:
“Seven artisanal miners were trapped after the shaft they were working in flooded following heavy rains. The bodies were retrieved on November 7.”
The victims — aged between 24 and 41 came from villages in Zhombe and Silobela.
Their deaths have reignited national concern over mining safety, especially during the rainy season.
But Silobela is not an isolated case.
On September 4, four miners died when a disused shaft collapsed at Chengxi Gold Mine in Shurugwi.
Later that month, five more were trapped in Mazowe after a 20-metre shaft caved in.
In May 2022, seven miners plunged to their deaths at Bucks Mine in Colleen Bawn when a hoisting rope snapped, sending their skip crashing 240 metres to the bottom.
In January 2024, a rare rescue operation saved 15 miners at Redwing Mine in Penhalonga after they were trapped underground for four days.
That success was credited to advanced tracking technology and swift coordination between government agencies and private firms.
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has since reactivated emergency protocols nationwide.
With the Meteorological Services Department forecasting more heavy rains and thunderstorms, the CPU is working with communities to raise awareness and promote safer mining practices.
According to The Manica Post, abandoned shafts and illegal pits become especially dangerous during wet weather, often turning into fatal traps.
Authorities are now calling for stricter enforcement of mining regulations, better monitoring of artisanal operations, and stronger collaboration between government and local stakeholders.
As rains continue to fall and shafts grow more unstable, authorities say the choice is simple: suspend operations, enforce safety, or count the dead.
