mbulelo smpofu
Raymond Jaravaza, raymondjaravaza@gmail.com
THE family of a teenager crushed to death by a rock in a disused mine shaft at Sunace Mine in Umguza District, Matabeleland North, is still trying to come to terms with the horrific manner in which he died while engaging in illegal gold mining with four friends.
Luckmore Sibanda (17) was killed last Thursday by a large rock that fell on him while he was illegally digging for gold in a decades-old mine shaft.
His four colleagues, two of who are also believed to be teenagers, escaped unhurt and later notified the authorities at Sunace Mine that the boy was trapped under a rock, although they were unsure if he was still alive.
The late teenager’s father was also informed, and together with Sunace security personnel, a search and rescue team was organised. However, Luckmore was found dead.
“Police confirm the sudden death of Luckmore Sibanda, national identity document not held, a male aged 17 years from Lukala Village under Chief Mtshane Khumalo.
“On the afternoon of 12 December, the deceased’s father was approached by an adult male informing him that Luckmore Sibanda was trapped in a mine shaft.
“When they went to check on him, it was discovered that the deceased’s body was trapped under a large rock. The team tried to retrieve the body but failed,” said Bulawayo provincial police acting spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele.
“A police report was then made. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the mine was closed, and the deceased and his colleagues were engaged in illegal mining.
“We encourage members of the public to desist from illegal mining as it endangers their lives.”
The late teenager’s father, Mr Never Sibanda, said the family is struggling to come to terms with the possibility that his body may never be retrieved from the shaft.
“Chances of his body being retrieved from the shaft are very slim. He was crushed by a large rock, which must be moved to retrieve his body, something we believe may not be possible,” said Mr Sibanda.
He added that his son had left school to pursue illegal gold mining, a decision he deeply regretted as a father.
“His peers are still in school, but he chose to join his friends in gold mining. It hurts to lose our child at such a young age,” he said.
Funeral arrangements, Mr Sibanda said, can only be made once the teenager’s body is successfully retrieved from the disused mine shaft.
It is not uncommon for the bodies of illegal miners buried deep underground following mine collapses to remain unrecovered when rescue efforts prove futile.
In 2020, families of six illegal miners, including four from the same family, trapped underground after a mine collapse in Matshetshe, Esigodini, conducted a burial ritual at the site after authorities deemed it too dangerous and costly to retrieve the bodies.
Sunace Mine is now operated by a company known as DG One, with active operations on one side of the mine. However, the section frequently raided by illegal miners remains closed, explained security supervisor Mr Muzikababa Makwelo.
“They come in groups at night and sneak into disused mine shafts where they dig for gold. In the morning, they drag bags of gold ore to processing sites in the area.
“On Thursday, four of the omakorokoza came to report that one of them had been trapped in a shaft, and they feared he had been crushed to death by a falling rock,” said Mr Makwelo.
The mine shaft where the accident occurred has not been operational for over 30 years.
“The shaft is one of the disused mine shafts abandoned by a German company over 30 years ago.
“Our team at Sunace Mine wrote a report stating that the chances of retrieving the body are less than two percent. It would be extremely risky to send a rescue team down there,” he said.
Mr Makwelo noted that security teams frequently face running battles with illegal miners who often carry dangerous weapons such as machetes and knives while raiding the mine for unsanctioned operations.
“We have in the past tried to seal off the entrances of the disused shafts, but they always find a way in to dig for gold. It’s a constant battle to keep them away from these old shafts, no matter how dangerous the conditions are,” he added.
The country’s labour laws prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from engaging in manual work such as mining. However, due to the unregulated nature of illegal mining, children as young as 12 years old are often found digging for gold.
Illegal miners disregard safety precautions, exposing themselves to life-threatening risks such as mine collapses, which often bury them alive.
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