At least six people are feared dead after they were trapped in two mine shafts at Pixton Mine near Chegutu.
The accident occurred on Friday when mine owners ordered that the shafts be filled up by soil and rocks to deter illegal panners.
Unbeknown to the mine owners, six panners were working underground when the excavator filled up the mine shafts with boulders and heaps of earth.
One of the panners Peter Mawoko told the State Media that he left three people underneath the mine when the exercise to fill up the shafts had already started.
He says he has not seen his colleagues since then.
Other panners say three other illegal miners are also feared to be trapped in the other shaft as they are also missing.
An excavator is expected at the site of the accident this Tuesday to try and retrieve the six panners.
Officials from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and representatives of Pixton Mine are also at the site of the mishap. – State Media