By Harmony Matenga
FIFTEEN miners were trapped underground last year at Redwing Mine in Manicaland when a shaft collapsed from heavy rains, raising serious safety concerns in Zimbabwe’s small-scale mining sector.
Fortunately, all 15 were rescued unharmed, but the incident has sparked renewed demands for stricter safety regulations as the rainy season persists.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando has urged miners to exercise extreme caution, warning that persistent downpours have made underground work increasingly dangerous.
“Miners should take precaution, including avoiding and stopping work in shafts and pits when it is actually raining,” he said.
“We urge miners to heed this warning to prevent accidents, injuries, fatalities, and associated losses.”
Zimbabwe has a significant history of mining accidents, especially in the informal sector, where many operations do not have adequate underground support.
Numerous small-scale miners depend on improvised shafts that can become unstable during extended periods of rainfall, heightening the risk of collapses.
The recent incident at Redwing Mine is just the latest in a troubling pattern of mining accidents that have resulted in workers being trapped underground, often with devastating outcomes.
“Our small-scale miners should avoid going underground during rains considering the dangers associated, such as flooding and subsequent ground falls,” Chitando said.
Even with these warnings, economic pressures compel miners to keep working in hazardous conditions.
Small-scale mining plays a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s economy, especially in the gold sector, where informal miners account for a substantial portion of national production.
Lacking viable alternative livelihoods, many miners believe they have no option but to jeopardise their safety in precarious shafts.
The government has consistently urged for enhanced safety measures, such as strengthening tunnels, upgrading drainage systems, and providing emergency response training for miners.
Nevertheless, enforcing these measures proves difficult, particularly in remote regions where informal mining is prevalent.
Although the workers at the Redwing Mine were lucky to survive, the next collapse could lead to much more severe consequences.
