Miners operating in the Great Dyke have been urged to exercise extreme caution during the ongoing rainy season to prevent accidents and fatalities.
Merjkh Holdings Chairman Munyaradzi Hwengwere issued the warning, emphasizing the dangers of underground operations during and after heavy downpours. He cautioned miners against letting greed override safety considerations, stressing the importance of prioritizing lives over profits.
The call comes against the backdrop of a troubling history of rain-related mining accidents in Zimbabwe. In February 2019, a burst dam caused catastrophic flooding at a gold mine, claiming at least 24 lives and leaving around 70 miners feared trapped. Only eight miners survived the disaster.
The risks have continued unabated in subsequent years. In 2023, mining accidents across the country led to at least 237 fatalities, marking one of the deadliest years in Zimbabwe’s mining history. Many of these incidents involved unregistered artisanal miners, whose operations often lack adherence to basic safety standards.
The dangers persist in 2024, with heavy rainfall already causing a near-tragedy in January when a shaft collapsed at the Redwing gold mine in Mutare, nearly killing 15 miners.
