Premier Gold Mine disaster: Dozens buried underground, no-one taking responsibility
MUTASA – Dozens of artisanal miners might never be accounted for after authorities abandoned rescue operations at Premier Gold Mine in Mutasa District, 30 km northeast of Mutare, where a shaft recently collapsed.
The police have said at least two bodies had been recovered.
Friends and relatives of the missing miners told Zim Morning Post that more than 30 others could still be buried underground.
The shaft collapsed after bulldozers belonging to a Chinese company began preparations to mine gold in the area.
The works by Jian Zhong Investments inadvertently caused the shaft to collapse with dozens of people trapped underground.
Reached for comment, Jian Zhong Investments general manager at the Premier Gold Mine site, who only identified himself as Xu, denied any wrong doing but admitted they had halted rescue efforts due to constrained funds.
“We followed all the precautionary procedures required. We engaged the police and the traditional leaders to notify them of our forthcoming operations of filling up the shafts,” he said.
“On November 8 and 9, there were teams sent into the community to notify them that we were going to be filling up the pits. On November 11, we gave another notice. We then worked with the police to make sure there were no people in the shafts and the police confirmed that the shafts were clear.”
“We began the operation on the morning of Sunday, November 13. After filling the pits, we were surprised to be told that we had buried people underneath. That is when we decided to team up with the police and community to dig the shaft. That is when we retrieved two bodies,” he continued.
The company has since abandoned rescue efforts pointing to constrained budget. Government also appears unmoved by the situation.
“We were told that there could be more bodies buried underneath. We committed ourselves to search for the bodies. Our company is committed to finding the remaining bodies if there are any, but it is now becoming expensive for us as this is involving too much machinery,” Xu said.
“All we did was under the guidance of police. We received instructions from the police who told us that everything was above board and I do not know why we are being accused of not taking precautionary measures,” he added.
Zim Morning Post visited the mine and spoke to villagers and artisanal miners who claimed that there were several bodies still buried under ground.
“On the day in question there were some (illegal) miners who were at Mbare (a central vending market). On this day (Sunday) they then left their phones for charging and went down the shafts,” said a villager who requested anonymity.
“When the new company came with the bulldozers to fill in the pits, they were told that there are some illegal miners who have gone down the shafts, but they remained adamant and continued with the filling of the pits.”
“What these people are doing here is very arrogant and it seems that they do not even care about human life,” said a villager who requested anonymity.
An artisanal miner told the Zim Morning Post that there are eight cell phones, which are yet to be collected that are believed to belong to the artisanal miners feared buried underground.
“We still have cell phones belonging to various individuals. The cell phones were on the charger when disaster struck. They are an indication that our colleagues are missing and there are very higher chances that they are buried underground,” he said, requesting not to be named.
“We have not seen eight of our guys. The police are saying that there are just two bodies retrieved, but the truth of the matter is that there are probably more bodies that have been buried alive,” he added.
Human rights activists and the director of Centre for Research and Development (CRD) James Mupfumi who also visited the mine on Sunday said it is likely that there is massive cover up of monumental proportion.
“We suspect that there was no due diligence on this whole process. There was no safety and health precautionary measures that were taken,” he said.
“According to our research there is an acrimonious relationship between this company and the members of the community. We have asked for an environment impact assessment report and we got nothing.”
“We suspect that this company does not have the requisite papers to do their operations. What is more surprising is the fact that they are doing riverbed mining.”
“This company must be investigated and the Parliament of Zimbabwe must act on such calamities because it is very clear that the Chinese do not care about human life,” Mupfumi added.
Outspoken human rights defender Farai Maguwu who is the director Centre for Natural Resources and Governance (CNRG) slammed the Chinese company and government for failing to prioritise human life.
“They deliberately filled the shaft entrance with earth fully aware that there were artisanal miners in the shaft,” he said.
“The Government of Zimbabwe, acting in partnership with foreign criminals masquerading as investors, murdered innocent Zimbabweans whose only crime is perhaps being Zimbabwean and poor.”
“Because of the criminalization of artisanal mining, there is no collaboration between government and artisanal miners in identifying those who are missing. What is the purpose of criminalising artisanal mining? Is it about killing your own people who are trying to a living?” said Maguwu.
The Member of Parliament of the area (Mutasa South) Regai Tsunga (MDC Alliance) who visited the area said he would raise the issue in Parliament.
“I will raise the matter in Parliament as a matter of national importance. It is a very disturbing occurrence. Elementary occupational safety and health protocols were clearly not observed on the whole processing of covering the mine shafts,” he said.
“We will demand that the Minister of Mines Hon Winston Chitando presents a ministerial statement in Parliament. In other jurisdictions, the Minister would do the honourable thing and resign.”
“It is now our hope that all the remaining bodies of those still trapped underground will be retrieved without delay for a decent burial,” said Tsunga.
