Bayhorse Mine in Zimbabwe: Government Cancels Rescue Operation Citing High Risk
The government has decided to halt efforts to retrieve the remaining bodies of miners who are trapped in a collapsed mine shaft in Bayhorse, Chegutu.
Last week, the shaft of Bayhorse Mine collapsed, resulting in over 35 miners being trapped underground. As a consequence of this tragedy, nine employees have been confirmed dead, leaving uncertainty about the fate of the remaining trapped miners.
During the post-cabinet media briefing, Daniel Garwe, the acting minister of Local Government and Public Works, stated that the state of the ground at Bayhorse has hindered rescue efforts, hence the immediate halt.
“The Ministry of Local Government, in collaboration with the civil protection unit and the local community, has managed to rescue 22 people and recover 6 bodies from the trapped miners.
“Currently, we still have up to 30 people underground. The movement of the ground poses a threat to the lives of the rescue teams. Operations have been suspended until we can identify a suitable area to enter the ground,” Garwe stated.
Yesterday, the government retrieved a decomposing and dismembered body of a miner.
The collapse of the Bayhorse mine has been attributed to haphazard mineral extraction methods.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), confirmed the identities of some of the recovered deceased miners as Godfrey Baro (26) from Mariyapera Compound, Chegutu, Tawanda Gavaza (28) from Musengezi Resettlement, Chegutu, and Lloyd Mashavave (40) from Waverly in Kadoma and Forbes Murombedzi (24) from Village 1, Musengezi, Zvimba.
