CommuTalk Reporter
KWEKWE: Kwekwe Central Member of Parliament, Judith Tobaiwa has called for the immediate closure of Homestake Mine, formerly known as Globe and Phoenix Mine following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of six artisanal miners.
The artisanal miners lost their lives in a mine dump landslide.
Tobaiwa emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety of miners and highlighted the need for stringent security measures similar to those in place at nearby Gaika Mine.
“Safety or our citizens is paramount. We cannot continue to bury people dying from that mine as we recently buried a young man who died of gases at the same mine.
“My appeal is for government to close the mine by erecting a parameter fence around the mine,” Tobaiwa said.
At Gaika, there are two lines of electrical fence which are two meters apart plus on-site cameras.
These security measures were put in place after rampant security breaches by artisanal miners in search of gold.
Tobaiwa also emphasized the need for alternative sources of income for the youths and called for government assistance possibly through funding for Small Scale Miners to ensure proper safety and security standards are in place.
Kwekwe Mayor, councilor Albert Zinhanga also urged community to support families left behind.
“In the midst of this tragedy, we must also remember the families of the miners who are left behind.
“They are the ones who will feel the loss more as they try to come to terms with sudden absence of their loved ones,” Mayor Zinhanga said.
“Let us honor them by advocating for safer working conditions for miners everywhere and by never forgetting the sacrifices that they made on a daily basis,” he added.
In a state assisted funeral, four miners were buried at Amaveni Cemetery and two others were taken to their rural homes.
Meanwhile, artisanal miners activities are posing a big threat to Kwekwe as geological experts have observed that cross cutting tunnels run underneath the Kwekwe Central Business District and government has since ordered evacuation in some of the buildings.
In one incidence, pupils were rescued after their classroom blocks collapsed into tunnels underneath.
