By A Correspondent -Silobela, Zimbabwe — The recent mining disaster in Silobela has once again cast a harsh spotlight on the mounting environmental degradation and unsafe mining practices that continue to endanger lives across Zimbabwe’s gold-rich communities.

Seven artisanal miners lost their lives last Wednesday after a shaft at Auriga 47 Mine in Nzwananzwi Village flooded following heavy rains. Their bodies were only recovered two days later, on Friday, in a grim operation that underscored the dangers faced by thousands of small-scale miners across the country.

Police confirmed the identities of the victims as Billion Bhebhe, Oscar Bafana, Amos Bafana, John Dube, Albert Nhengure, Qhubekani Mahlube — all from Nazareth Village, Ntobankala area under Chief Malisa in Silobela — and Mkhululi Moyo from Nzwananzi Village under Chief Sigodo in Zhombe.

The tragedy has drawn renewed attention to the lack of proper mining methods in many artisanal operations, where individuals often work without safety gear, structural support, or regulated oversight. Environmental activists warn that such catastrophic isolated but symptomatic of deeper issues: unchecked land degradation, collapsing pits, chemical pollution, and unregulated mining methods that place miners and communities at constant risk.

Climate change activist Ishmael Kupfuwa urged a united response to prevent further loss of life.
“This tragedy shows why we urgently need an all-stakeholders approach,” he said. “Environmental degradation is worsening, mining methods remain unsafe, and lives are being lost. We need government, communities, miners, and environmental experts working together to rehabilitate damaged ecosystems and put proper safety systems in place.”

Kupfuwa emphasized that collaboration is the only way to ensure sustainable mining practices. “We cannot continue reacting to disasters after they happen. Protecting lives and the environment must be a shared responsibility.”

As Silobela mourns its latest victims, the disaster serves as a stark reminder that without collective action, both the environment and human lives will continue to pay the price. For families in Nzwananzwi and Nazareth Villages, the tragedy is not just a statistic but a devastating personal loss — one that underscores the urgent need for reform in Zimbabwe’s artisanal mining sector.