Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
MORE bodies are suspected to be still buried at the Old Motapa Mine in Bubi District following a collapse that occurred after the discovery of gold deposits in April.

The illegal miners who have continued to work at the disused mine have reported to local leaders, mine and council officials that a pungent smell of rotting flesh is coming from the collapsed shaft where six bodies were retrieved at the time of the accident.

Bubi Rural District Chief Executive Officer Mr Patson Mlilo confirmed receiving reports about the suspected bodies, saying plans to retrieve them were underway.

“The mine management has brought to our attention that it is suspected there may be some bodies that were left down the shaft following that accident.

“A stench is being detected from the same shaft where six bodies were retrieved after the shaft had collapsed on an unknown number of miners.

“We can however neither deny no confirm that there are more bodies in the shaft. Our earthmoving machinery is being fixed. As soon as it is sorted, council and mine management will start digging and thoroughly searching for bodies,” he said.

Zanu-PF councillor for Ward 8, Mr Herbert Ngwendu, said miners who had continued digging in shafts that stretch towards the collapsed one, had reported that there was a bad smell underground.

“About six families from various parts of Bubi, Silobela and Nkayi have reported to me that their relatives, who were mining in the shaft, went missing after it collapsed. This has prompted us to revisit the site and start re-digging. We hope functional machinery can be acquired as soon as possible and work be done so that if there are any deceased persons down there, they may be properly laid to rest,” he said.

More than 700 illegal panners from all corners of the country allegedly invaded Old Motapa Mine in April following the discovery of huge gold deposits.

At least 15 people were feared dead during the collapse of the shaft but only six were retrieved while another person died in hospital.

Attempts to search for more bodies were made before the rescue workers declared that the shaft was clear and there were no more bodies.

After the death of the panners, council took over control of the mine to regulate activities and avoid similar tragedies.

At the time of digging, officials, miners and villagers had confirmed seeing legs of panners trapped sticking out, resulting in them believing that there were bodies.

Rescuers from Isabella Mine and How Mine who worked with the locals to retrieve the trapped bodies had said there were no more bodies after the six had been retrieved.

@winnie_masara

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