By Paul Nyathi|At least 15 people among them police officers, are feared dead after a tunnel of a disused mine collapsed on Thursday afternoon at Old Motapa Mine in Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province.

Highly reliable ZimEye.com sources at the mine indicated that five bodies were retrieved from the mine on Friday by fellow miners.

According to the sources at least two of the suspected fifteen people trapped underground could be police officers who had been sent to bring order at the rich mine but resorted to joining the illegal mining activity.

Mining activity at the disused mine intensified a few weeks ago after a 65 year old man hit huge gold harvests when he bravely started digging the mine alone.

Hundreds other illegal panners swarmed the mine after the man got over $30 000 in payouts for his gold. According to the sources the numbers doubled this week leading to fights and an imminent initial collapse of the mine which killed one person last week.

Police officers were dispatched to retain order at the mine but when the officers got there they joined the mining activity which saw the mine encounter the huge collapse on Thursday where at least 15 people are feared dead.

Bubi District Council chief executive, Mr Patson Mlilo told news reporters that a rescue team from How Mine in Esigodini was summoned and rescue operations started around 3PM on Friday.

He said all those trapped were feared dead as they have been lying under the collapsed mine for too long.

“The information we have is that 15 or more people could be trapped underground and our fears are that they could be dead by now. Four panners who were rescued told the police that they left 15 others underground.

Five bodies have been retrieved and we are seeing legs of panners trapped sticking out,” he said.

Mlilo could not confirm community rumours that part of the people trapped underground could have been police officers saying that rescuers from Isabella Mine and How Mine were working with the locals to retrieve the trapped bodies.

Zanu-PF councillor for Ward 8, Herbert Ngwendu confirmed that the police were called in to quell the running battles at the disused mine but surprisingly joined the mining and the situation is becoming worse.

The panners said the army should be called in to bring order at the disused mine before more lives are lost as a result of the dangerous mining activities.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson, Inspector Sipiwe Makonese on Thursday confirmed the death of one illegal miner.

She denied allegations by the villagers that police officers called in to maintain order, had joined the illegal mining.

Last year, 13 police officers were convicted under the Police Act for engaging in illegal gold mining in the same area.

Police prosecutors preferred charges ranging from criminal abuse of office, leaving their posts unattended and engaging in activities which violate the Police Act.