A house near Globe and Phoenix Mine in Kwekwe has been “swallowed” by a mine tunnel.
According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services the kitchen and bathroom collapsed into an underground tunnel following explosions in the area.
“This is a house in Silver Oaks Street, near Globe and Phoenix Mine, belonging to Mrs Rusike and her family. The dining room collapsed into a tunnel a year ago, forcing them out of their home.
Last evening, the kitchen and bathroom gave in, owing to the dynamite explosion from the mining activities around the area. This revealed a huge shaft that has been underneath the house.
Cabinet has an inter-ministerial team to deal with this,” Mangwana said on his Twitter account.
Earlier this year the Mine Rescue Association of Zimbabwe swiftly attended to an emergency at Globe and Phoenix Mine in Kwekwe when a classroom collapsed resulting in the injury of 18 schoolchildren.
This was after some ground subsidence caused by illegal small-scale mining activities gave way at a primary school resulting in the injury of 18 schoolchildren.
41 kids were geared to start lessons around 0730hrs when suddenly half of the floor of their classroom gave in following the ground subsidence. 14 kids went down with the collapse but luckily the desks and chairs went in first and closed the gaping floor and that saved the kids.
During the collapse, other kids from adjacent classes panicked and jumped out through the windows resulting in four more children being injured.
Fortunately, all the children were taken to the hospital and were all discharged by the end of the day.
