By Own Correspondent- Two more bodies of artisanal miners trapped at Cricket Mine in Kadoma two weeks ago have been retrieved.

The bodies, which were in an advanced state of decomposition have been identified as Xavier and Cosmic Zvitiki who are uncle and nephew.

This brings the death toll of the artisanal miners who perished in the disaster to 26.

Deputy Chief Government Mining Engineer Tapererwa Paskwavaviri confirmed the latest development and said the duo’s bodies were retrieved after 15 days of extensive de-watering of the mine where they were trapped following flooding.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists at a post cabinet briefing that government efforts to retrieve the bodies of trapped miners was continuing. She offered government’s condolence message to families of the victims, 24 of whom were retrieved on February 16 at nearby Silver Moon Mine.

Eight other miners miraculously escaped death in the flooded mines and were rescued after spending 4 days underground.