Tinotenda Hove- Tragedy struck in Mazowe after four bodies of artisanal miners were recovered from a mine shaft at Mamini, Umsasa Farm.

The victims were identified by their families as Alton Sibanda (25) from Thlavati Village in Zhombe, Prince Gobvu (19) from Mhariwa Village in Mhondoro, Kenneth Mhandire (24) from Eastview in Harare, and Tapiwa Meskano (26) from Chikwaka Village in Goromonzi.

Authorities said the miners were trapped underground following a collapse, with recovery teams working alongside local villagers to retrieve the bodies.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers faced by artisanal miners across the country, where unsafe working conditions and lack of protective equipment continue to claim lives.

Community members described the deaths as a devastating loss, calling on government and mining authorities to improve safety regulations in unlicensed mining operations that have become widespread in Mazowe and other gold-rich areas.