Penhalonga Mine Flood Horror: Eight Breadwinners Lost Underground

Eight artisanal miners were killed around midnight on Monday when heavy rains flooded a secret shaft at House Number 6, Rizende Road, in Redwing Mine, Penhalonga.

The men were trapped underground in an illegal tunnel allegedly operated by homeowner Ms Tsitsi Tizwi.

The flooding sparked a desperate rescue effort that stretched over two days.

By late Wednesday, all eight bodies had been recovered, the last brought out at 10pm.

The tragedy left grieving families — among them a pregnant widow and relatives of two brothers demanding answers.

The miners were working underground that night when water surged into the shaft, trapping them inside.

Ten men were at the site — eight in the tunnel and two guarding the entrance, but only the two at the opening survived.

The disaster launched frantic rescue efforts led by Redwing Mine authorities, assisted by fellow artisanal miners, which continued for two days until all eight bodies were recovered.

Ms Tizwi said she was asleep until the survivors rushed to alert her, and she immediately called Redwing Mine authorities at dawn.

“The two surviving artisanal miners came to tell me what had happened. We tried to rescue them, but our efforts were in vain.

“In the morning, I went to the Redwing Mine authorities, and they quickly sent a rescue team. They worked nonstop until all eight bodies were retrieved by Wednesday night,” she said.

She later admitted running the illegal operation to support her three children after her husband’s death in 2021.

“This is not the company’s doing. It is mine, and I feel so bad about it. I am in pain.”

The victims came from Buhera, Zimunya, Marange, and Masvingo, including two brothers from Marange and two relatives from Masvingo.

Most were breadwinners, some leaving behind pregnant wives.

After the bodies were retrieved, grief and anger erupted at Ms Tizwi’s home, where broken windows and scattered property showed the anger of fellow panners demanding answers.

Relatives of some victims remained at the house while others travelled to Mutare for post mortem processes.

Ms Tizwi said business partners loaned her US$10,000 to cover funeral and burial costs for all eight victims.

“Gold panners and relatives were so violent demanding their loved ones’ bodies. They broke my windowpanes. We just watched haplessly as they went on a rampage.

“Everyone deals with pain differently,” she said.

She added that the tunnel did not run directly beneath her house:

“The tunnel is not directly under the house. We were very careful about that.”

Her brother‑in‑law, Mr Norman Tsikiwa, appealed for community support, saying the family faces a heavy burden managing multiple funerals.

“We will attend every funeral as Ms Tizwi’s relatives. She was only trying to take care of her family as a widow, and we are supporting her during these trying times,” he said.

Families of the deceased, however, voiced concern about long‑term support beyond burials.

Mr Gwinyai Gwite, who lost two brothers, Terrence and Ananias, said the families now face an uncertain future.

“There is no compensation for the surviving wives and children. Ms Tizwi promised to help with burial arrangements, but what about long‑term support? It is painful beyond words.

“Terrence’s wife is pregnant, and that child will never know his father.”

The brothers will be buried in Marange.

Another relative, Mr Tarusenga Gwite, said the loss was “too heavy to bear,” though he acknowledged the immediate help.

“We just want our relatives’ bodies released so we can bury them. We are grateful that the mine owner has supported us and promised to cover the expenses, but the pain is still deep,” he said.

Mr Talent Mutepfa, whose brother Passmore had travelled to Penhalonga two days before the tragedy, said he initially hoped for a rescue.

“When I first heard the news, I thought he might be found alive.

“We never imagined he would die like this or that recovery would take so long. I delayed coming, and waiting for his body was painful,” he said.

He urged mine operators to consider weather conditions before sending workers underground.

“Mine owners should not allow workers underground when it is raining. That is risky. At least wait until the weather clears,” he said.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment.

-Manicapost