Ran Mine rescue mission to stop

By Fungai Lupande

Rescue operations at Ran Mine in Bindura where at least 10 miners were trapped in a disused mine shaft two weeks ago have stopped after the tunnel continued to collapse.

Rescue workers installing a water pump to drain water from the mine shaft at Ran Mine in Bindura (Picture by AFP)

Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando said Government will soon move in to ensure that all mining activities were undertaken in accordance with the law in a safe manner.

This comes after a number of mine disasters have occurred in the past year because of illegal mining.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo who visited Ran Mine on Saturday, said search and rescue of the trapped had become difficult and Government will take a relief approach.

“This tragedy was attended by several ministries, including the technical ministry of Mines and Mining Development, engineers, provincial and national civil protection unit,” he said.

“Our first mode of operation is to search and rescue. We lost one volunteer and we retrieved one person. The situation has gone worse because of the incessant rains and the ground has become sensitive and it is collapsing.

“Some of the families are here and we might move into the relief situation. We must move into the relief approach which include psycho-social understanding of what has happened and work with the families.”

Chief Government Engineer Michael Munodawafa said rescue operations at the mine had stopped after the tunnel collapsed.

“The area where we pumped out water collapsed and we are trying to find a better way of dealing with the situation due to the instability of the ground,” he said.

“This is an old mine and at the bottom there is a deep void filled with water, in mining we call it an open stope. When the initial collapse happened, that is why water came up instead going down. De-watering of the tunnel released pressure and contributed to the continuous collapse.” The Herald

Binduramine shaft collapseRan MineWinston Chitando
Comments (22)
Add Comment
  • Mncube Herbert

    May thier soul rest in Peace 💔…. becouse of Zanu pfeeeee

    • Mazendame Chidhindi Mawere James

      Mncube Herbert you ppl znu pf Zanupf what for ,you makoroza mukafira mumigodhi Zanupf ,mukarega kurima mumunda menyu Zanupf ,ukadhakwa ne Castile lite Zanupf, ukafirwa nemwana wako Zanupf ,ukaruza ticket rako rebhora Zanupf ,think of your life not always about Zanupf ,Mdc you go nowhere in life because you think of those Mdc and Zanupf , if you look chamisa and Mnangagwa both of them use you to be Rich all those makoroza if you see them is just like mahwindi , think about your life not about Mdc and Zanupf all of those two are shit to think about

    • Mamakamangie Tanganyika

      Murevi Chokwadi Very sad you can ask again..Look at the old mines we never used to hear of so much fatalities when we were growing up..Now they are pushed by greed and Zero Safety for the workers😢😢😢

  • Joyline Sabunu

    anonyepa uyo nzvimbo iyoyi yakunhuwa wanhu waora manje apo parikuramb pachingodhirika zvinonzwisa tsitsi

  • Jey Tembo

    From 40 kkkk aa Zimbabwe huwori haupere

    • Taurai Shoko

      Jey Tembo kkkkkkk ini ndazvishayawoo kkk

    • Jey Tembo

      Taurai Shoko nhai nhai aa zvakaoma

    • Musiiwa Sibanda

      Number dzacho zvadzinongodzorwa daily… rigging yakapinda zveshuwa.

  • Witness Terrance Mario Ncube

    Let it continue collapsing,,, as long it’s in mashonaland side,, it’s time thy pay for their sins,,, #no sin goes unpublished

    • Rodney Thabani Ncube

      Witness Terrance Mario Ncube not good bro. Why should kids suffer for their fathers sins.

    • Witness Terrance Mario Ncube

      Rodney Thabani Ncube,, ask yourself my brother ukthi thina sifelani,, karma is dealing wth emme now, we suffered enough,, now it’s their time to suffer dearly

  • Freddy Dube

    Go to rescue the miners who trapped in at esigodini other wise you just wasting your time ngobandlululo lwenu lolo u nkulunkulu uyibhekile indaba yenu maswina