2 of the artisanal miners reported to be trapped in a shaft since Tuesday last week at Task Mine Syndicate in Chegutu are members of the same family, while the third miner is related to the 2 brothers, It has emerged.
The trapped miners include Constantino Dzinoreva, Crynos Nyamukanga (ages not given), Munashe Nyamukanga (17), Shingai Gwatidzo (20) and a fifth miner only identified as Charles.
Reports indicate that all the miners are still alive but rescuers are failing to reach them as the mine shaft continues to cave in.
While addressing a Senate sitting on Thursday. MDC Alliance Senator Violet Moeketsi raised the matter with Senate President Mabel Chinomona, questioning the legality of the shaft. Said Moeketsi:
Mr President, in Mashonaland West, we have encountered a problem where a family got trapped in a mine; a father, his two children and two grandchildren. There are five people trapped in this mine shaft.
I would like to ask if this mineshaft is documented at law or it is one of those shafts being used by illegal artisanal miners.
However, after speaking to Mining Zimbabwe which was at Task Mine on Saturday, they told us 2 of the trapped miners are brothers while the other miner (name not supplied) is related to the trapped miners.