Paul Nyathi

Reports just received indicate that fellow illegal gold miners known as Makorokoza have retrieved two bodies of the five artisanal miners trapped fifty meters underground when a Chegutu mine shaft collapsed.

The five miners were trapped underground on September 8 after a 110-metre mine shaft they were working in collapsed at Task Mine Syndicate situated on the outskirts of Chegutu.

They were identified as Crynos Nyamukanga (44), Munashe Nyamukanga (17), Shingai Gwatidzo (20), Costantino Dzinoreva (47) and Charles Mutume (31).

The ill-equipped Civil Protection Unit (CPU) and other State agencies abandoned the rescue mission on 2 October.

“We are relieved that our children have been found. Although dead, feel we can now find closure,” said a relative.

Another distraught relative, said his nephew could have been found alive had government rendered timely help to the trapped artisanal miners.

“Government let us down. They abandoned the search midway without exhausting all possible avenues to rescue our relatives alive,” he said.

The CPU has reportedly pledged coffins and other resources to facilitate burial of the discovered bodies.