Three artisanal miners tragically lost their lives on Wednesday in Mapinga, reportedly due to inhaling exhaust fumes from a generator they had brought underground.
The generator was being used to power a jackhammer, which was employed to break apart large chrome ore boulders.
As reported by <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/three-die-in-mapinga-chrome-mine-shaft/">The Herald</a>, the bodies of the three men, all aged 27, were recovered around 6 PM, two hours after the accident, and transported to the mortuary at Banket Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Among the bereaved is 65-year-old Gogo Pamidzai Kaitano, who lost two of her sons in this incident. The third victim was a neighbour of the brothers.
Ellesha Chitiza, a nephew of one of the deceased, shared his account of the tragic event. He said:
<blockquote>
I received a call from Musoja who was sponsoring my uncle, cousin and friend, that something terrible had occurred at the mine.
I rushed to check what had happened. I noticed that the bodies of my uncle and cousin were lying lifeless a few metres from the entrance of the mine. My friend’s body was a distance away from those two.
I went down the shaft to investigate what had caused their death but couldn’t go further as I was now gasping for air. This means that there was a presence of poisonous gas in the shaft.
</blockquote>
He said the generator in question was never found at the scene.
Gogo Kaitano, a resident of Kilmaqdouh Compound near Mapinga Truckstop, is heartbroken after the loss of her sons. Partially blind, she is grappling with profound grief following the tragic accident. She said:
<blockquote>
They were caring for me; as you can see I am partially blind. For the past two months after joining the sector, they bought food and brought other items to the house. They had started working towards constructing a modern house.
</blockquote>
Didymus Mukuya Mangeyi, the son of Gogo Kaitano, appealed to the Government and well-wishers to assist them in such a difficult time.
The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Josphat Jaji, who also chairs the Civil Protection Unit, said the district protection unit had been notified and investigations are underway.
Provincial Minister Marian Chombo expressed her sorrow over the situation, assuring that assistance will be provided to the affected families.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Three miners died in a chrome mine shaft from breathing in fumes from a generator used to power a jackhammer. The bodies were found two hours after the accident. One mother lost her two sons in the incident. A nephew of one of the deceased miners couldn't go far into the shaft because of poison gas. The generator was missing. The mother, who is partially blind, is devastated. Officials are investigating the incident, and help is being offered to the affected families.

Three Miners Die From Exhaust Fumes In Chrome Mine Shaft

The opposition CCC has blamed the Government for the alleged abduction and torture of one of its newly-elected councillors in Harare on Saturday night.
Posting on social media site X, CCC said Glen Norah councillor, Womberaishe Nhende was abducted, tortured, drugged, and dumped in Mapinga, Mashonaland West Province. <a href="https://twitter.com/CCCZimbabwe/status/1698219574078935338?s=20">Reads the post</a>:
<blockquote>
…our Glen Norah councilor, Womberaishe Nhende… was abducted, tortured, drugged, and dumped in Mapinga by the Harare regime. His only “crime” is being a member of CCC.
The panic displayed by the Harare regime is indicative of their knowledge that they did not win the 2023 election.
</blockquote>
According to Change Radio, Nhende’s assailants used two vehicles, a brown Toyota Fortuner and a silver Toyota Belta. <a href="https://twitter.com/ChangeRadioZW/status/1698131265755418718?s=20">It said</a>:
<blockquote>
CCC youth leader Womberai Nhende and one other individual were abducted at around 10 PM yesterday.
The assailants used two vehicles: a brown Toyota Fortuner and a silver Toyota Belta.
They were severely assaulted, injected with an unknown substance, and later dumped in Mapinga. The regime has no shame.
</blockquote>
This comes after another CCC activist, Nelson Mukwenha, was allegedly abducted by suspected State security agents on 26 August.
According to Amnesty International, on 26 August 2023, Mukwenha was part of a crowd of people that prevented suspected security officials from abducting Promise Mkwananzi, spokesperson of the CCC, during a press conference in Harare.
Later that evening, Mukwenha was reportedly picked up by suspected security officials at his home in Highfields, Harare.
Mukwenha was then tortured and dumped in a forest in Mapinga.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Newly-elected CCC Councillor Abducted And Tortured | Report

Driving trucks on the dilapidated Harare-Chirundu Highway has become a nightmare for drivers as robbers pounce on slow-moving trucks even in broad daylight.
Jonas Kabasa, a 41-year-old truck driver who uses the route frequently, told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200013425/highway-robbers-cause-havoc">NewsDay</a> that the highway is now regarded as a death trap for local and regional travellers.
Kabasa, who was born and raised in Chinhoyi, drives trucks from South Africa to Zambia, Malawi or the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He said:
<blockquote>
Of late, many travellers have been forced to sleep over along the highway, especially when travelling during the night after hitting deep gullies and potholes that are now permanent features along the way.
The road is no longer easy to travel on due to potholes.
Of late, some cars have been left on the roadside due to tyre punctures, malfunctioning engines affected by water from big potholes along the highway, especially during the rainy season.
</blockquote>
Machete-wielding highway robbers popularly known as “Makaramata”, derived from how they get on top of a moving vehicle with ease because of the slow speeds, have also become a menace. Said Kabasa:
<blockquote>
The Harare-Chirundu Highway is now a double tragedy for night drivers as we battle to navigate the potholed road from Chinhoyi to Chirundu which is now a death trap.
The worst is that we have to endure highway attacks by robbers, especially from Mapinga, Chikuti and Kasimure areas.
</blockquote>
Tapera Rukambwa, a resident at Mapinga business centre said a masked robber has attacking people during the day when they stop to relieve themselves while enjoying the Mapinga scenery of the Great Dyke.
Speaking to NewsDay, a member of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from Bindura said they had to open fire to apprehend a robber a few years ago. Said the detective:
<blockquote>
A Bindura gold dealer lost some cash after he was raided at Mapinga lay-by by the suspect.
He provided us with transport as we investigated the matter.
We ambushed the robber around the area and spotted him in the bush, but he outran us all while ignoring warning shots.
He was finally shot in the leg. He led us to the place where he keeps his loot.
He had several thousands of US dollars in stolen money.
</blockquote>
In April, a truck bound for Zambia was robbed at Chikuti about 180km from Harare.
Two suspects, armed with machetes and knobkerries, forced the driver to stop and confronted him and three other passengers demanding money.
The truck driver was robbed of US$1 500 while we surrendered at least US$500.
In January this year, P<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/01/12/robbers-targetting-haulage-trucks-along-harare-chirundu-highway-police/">olice warned haulage truck drivers to avoid travelling at night on the Harare-Chirundu highway</a> saying there were dangerous criminals on the prowl targeting trucks between 7 PM and 5 AM
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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