Rescuers Reach Body of Gwanda Miner After 48-Hour Dig Through Rubble

GWANDA — After digging through rubble for nearly 48 hours, rescuers in Gwanda finally reached the body of an illegal gold miner trapped beneath a collapsed shaft — ending a tense effort that gripped the local community.

The collapse occurred on Monday around 5p.m in the Jacaranda area, where the miner had been working with a colleague inside a disused shaft.

The ground gave way suddenly, burying one of them under heavy boulders while the other escaped unharmed.

Initial rescue efforts on Monday and Tuesday failed to reach the trapped miner.

With hope fading, a determined group of local mine workers returned to the site on Wednesday morning around 10a.m.

Armed with hammers and chisels, they battled through the rubble for hours and by 5p.m, they finally recovered the body.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Chiratidzo Dube, confirmed the fatal accident.

“I can confirm that we recorded a mine accident where an illegal panner died after a shaft he was working in collapsed.

“Dolphin Moyo and Michael Sibanda were working in a shaft in Jacaranda area on 20 October at around 4p.m,” she said.

Inspector Dube added,

“Sibanda noticed that the shaft was unstable and alerted the now deceased, and they decided to stop.

“The shaft immediately collapsed and Sibanda was able to escape, but Moyo was buried by boulders.

“The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene.”

According to Chronicle, the shaft was part of a long-abandoned mine that continues to attract artisanal miners despite its known dangers.

The tragedy has reignited concerns over the safety of illegal mining operations in Matabeleland South, where similar incidents have claimed lives in recent years.

Police have urged members of the public to avoid entering disused mine shafts, warning that such areas pose serious risks to life.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.