By Own Correspondent

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has released the names of six miners whose bodies were recovered after a shaft at Golden Reef Mine in Eiffel Flats flooded in November 2025, killing them instantly.

Police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi on said the victims were identified by their families following the accident at the Etina section of the mine.

The six were named as Jacob Maposa; Colleen Sibanda, Nevers Makarichi, Simbarashe Bangira and Danai Mashoko, all of Umbark in Kadoma, and Givemore Chiredzi, of Maratonga Village in Kadoma.

Police said the six miners were working underground when the shaft suddenly flooded, trapping them. Their bodies have since been retrieved.

Nyathi urged miners to strictly comply with safety requirements to prevent further tragedies.

“Miners should avoid entering shafts that are prone to flooding, particularly during and after rainfall,” he said.

Police revealed that the men were trapped with no chance of escape as water quickly engulfed the shaft. The accident occurred shortly after heavy rains soaked the area, highlighting the ongoing dangers miners face during the rainy season.

Mine accidents are a significant safety issue in Zimbabwe. The primary cause of these accidents is the collapse of mine shafts and ground, which is particularly prevalent in the largely unregulated artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

The Fall of ground is the leading cause of fatalities, accounting for 37% of deaths in Q2 2025 data and 15 of the 33 deaths in early 2024 data. Ground instability and inadequate support systems in underground operations are major contributors.

Other causes include mine shafts being flooded, often after heavy rains, and explosions from improper handling of explosives.