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Wellington Takavarasha, director of the Zimbabwe Federation of Miners, told AFP that miners were working inside the disused Ran gold mine when a shaft collapsed.
A miner. Image: AFP
HARARE – At least 40 informal miners in Zimbabwe were trapped underground after a shaft collapsed in a disused gold mine, the country’s miners’ federation said Thursday.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night in the town of Bindura, about 70 kilometers north of the capital Harare, said Wellington Takavarasha, head of the Zimbabwe Federation of Miners.
Takavarasha told AFP that miners were working inside the disused Ran gold mine when a shaft collapsed.
Since then, six miners have been pulled from the rubble and taken to hospital.
“Those who were rescued said there were around 40 people in the mine shaft at the time of the incident,” Takavarasha said, adding that rescue efforts were ongoing.
Mining is a major source of foreign exchange for Zimbabwe, where gold alone accounts for 60% of exports.
The landlocked southern African country is home to vast reserves of gold and minerals, including diamonds and platinum.
The gold sector employs almost 10% of the country’s population, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).
Small miners often operate illegally to avoid selling their bullion to the state buyer, Fidelity Printers and Refiners, as they are only paid 55% in foreign currency.
The remaining 45% is paid in Zimbabwean dollars, which is known for its weakness.
Accidents are relatively common in closed mines, particularly when the soil is loosened by rain.
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