A 24-year-old man, Walter Murevachimwe, went missing on 17 December 2024 when a mine he was working in, the Hunan Xinyu Mine near Connemara, Gweru, collapsed. Murevachimwe, a resident of Ngezi in Kadoma, was employed by Hunan Xinyu Mining as a driver of a Tipper Truck.
Speaking to Great Dyke News, ZRP Midlands spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said the accident occurred around 9:30 AM while Murevachimwe was reversing the truck, preparing to load gold ore, when the mine suddenly caved in.
He indicated that the truck was trapped in a flooded mine shaft, with muddy water covering the vehicle. Police and a team from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development from Gweru quickly arrived at the scene to assess the situation.
He said rescue efforts commenced immediately, with a team working to pump out the water and extricate the truck using excavators. However, despite their efforts, Murevachimwe remains unaccounted for.
The search for the missing driver continues, with rescue teams remaining at the site to locate and recover Murevachimwe. The exact cause of the mine collapse is still under investigation, and authorities are working to understand the circumstances surrounding the accident.
